Metal Electrodeposition in Pre-Synthesized CPs

Ag [159 163], Cu [165-189], Ni [159,190-193], Pb [89,138,159] etc. and also of Pt-based bimetallic systems [95,102,103,111,112,126,135] has been extensively studied (Table 7.3). The majority of investigations address the various possibilities of dispersing Pt particles in PANI [90-127] and PPY [51,79,128-137]. What follows is an outline of the developments in this field of research with emphasis on experimental techniques that provide nanosized metallic particles in electrosynthesized CP layers and on approaches that influence their spatial distribution in a pre-defined way. 

The use of CP-coated electrodes for metal electrodeposition, instead of the typical conducting (metal, glassy carbon etc.) substrates, results in the interference in this process of various specific factors that closely relate to the intrinsic propertiesof CPs. Among them are the initial oxidation state of the CP material, its surface morphology and surface chemical state, and also bulk characteristics, such as porosity and metal-polymer chemical interactions. These factors are often inter-related and therefore it is difficult to differentiate clearly their effect on the characteristics of the obtained metal deposit. 

Metal-ion source (concentration) Conductive polymer Metal deposition method Me particle size (for Me loading) and/or Me deposit location Ref. 

KjPtCIfi (5 mM) PANI Single-, double-potential steps or exhaustive electrolysis, pre-soaking with Me ions 100 nm (for 2 gg cm ), 20-100 nm (for 4 gg cm ), particle agglomerates (20 gg cm ) 90 

HjPtCIfi (3.9 mM) PANI Cyclic voltammetry in absence of Me ions, after pre-soaking 1 00 nm (for 200 gg cm ) 93, 94 

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