PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYANILINE-PALLADIUM COMPOSITE FILMS

Palladium is a preeminent material for the preparation of sensors for hydrogen and hydrogen-evolving compounds. Conducting polyaniline can b e chemically or electrochemically functionalized by the incorporation of palladium clusters. Different interfaces in a three-dimensional mat rix for hydrogen adsorption, desorption, and evolution were synthesize d and characterized. Dispersions of palladium clusters in the polymer film were formed by various preparation routes, which can be classifie d as one- or two-step processes. In the one-step process, the composit e material was obtained during the electrosynthesis of polyaniline fil m. In the two-step processes, Pd aggregated into the polyaniline modif ied electrode. Electrochemical examination, x-ray photoelectron spectr oscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy have been employed to characte rize the composite materials in view of the hydrogen sorption and evol ution as well as the binding energy state and the spatial distribution of the palladium clusters in polyaniline film.