Inclusion Of Metallic Aggregates In Organic Conducting Polymers. A New Catalytic System For The H+ Reduction.

Abstract

Abstract Among the well-known organic conducting polymers, polythiophene and its derivatives have been shown to be remarkably stable in both their conducting and insulating states. Furthermore, they can be reversibly cycled between these two states in water. The use of metals complexes anions as electrolyte allows the doping of polythiophene with metal derivatives. Their further electrochemical reduction leads to the formation of metallic aggregates in the polymer -Thus, Ag and Pt clusters have been included in poly 3 methyl-thiophene : i-Ag clusters are mainly located along the polymer fibers and ensure the conductivity of this charged polymer, even in the cathodic range correspondint ot its neutral state; ii-Pt clusters are located near the surface of the polymer, iii-thus system shows a very high catalytic activity for the proton reduction in acidic medium (pH = 0, V = -0.4 V/SCE and J ∼ 200mAcm−2 instead of 130mAcm with a platinized electrode). A remarkable stability is obtained, more than 170 hours (20 min with polypyrrole).