Synthesis of Conducting Polymer Supported Pd Nanoparticles in Aqueous Medium and Catalytic Activity Towards 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

We report here the synthesis of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles incorporated poly-(3,4)ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) matrix in aqueous medium and its catalytic performance towards 4-nitrophenol reduction. This simple one-pot synthesis involving a redox reaction between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and palladium chloride (PdCl2) precursor, leads to the formation of Pd nanoparticles supported on particulate PEDOT. Pd nanoparticles of size 1–9 nm were found to distribute uniformly over the PEDOT matrix. Morphology of the Pd–PEDOT nanocomposite was characterized by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and the crystallographic details obtained using X-ray diffraction. The chemical nature of the PEDOT support matrix was analyzed using Fourier transform-infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the composite was demonstrated using a model reaction, i.e., reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The value of the apparent rate constant, ca. 65.8 × 10−3 s−1 obtained using UV visible spectroscopy of the reduction of 4-nitrophenol at the Pd–PEDOT nanocomposite is comparable to those reported for other catalytic systems.