Interactions of reactive polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles with gold nanoparticles and silanized glass

Polypyrrole‐coated polystyrene latex particles (400–1000 nm‐sized) bearing reactive amino, carboxylic acid and N‐succinimidyl ester groups (PS‐PPyNH2, PS‐PPyCOOH and PS‐PPyNSE, respectively) were prepared by the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole (Py) and the N‐functionalized pyrrole in the presence of PS particles. The PS‐PPy spheres have a core/shell structure resulting in the formation of hollow particles after selective extraction of PS. The PS‐PPyNSE particles were immobilized at pH 7.4 onto various silanized glass plates. Surface coverage decreased in the order mercaptosilane > aminosilane ≫ methylsilane. The PS‐PPyCOOH was effective in forming 2D hexagonal assemblies onto aminated glass at pH 7 but not at pH 5. The PS‐PPyNH2 spheres can be decorated with citrate‐stabilized gold nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions and transformed into Au‐decorated hollow PPyNH2 particles after selective extraction of PS. Finally, gold nanoparticles immobilized onto an aminated glass plate could serve as a conversion layer for the massive attachment of PS‐PPyNH2, resulting in a very rough conductive overlayer. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.