Generation of gold–PEDOT nanostructures at an interface between two immiscible solvents

Abstract Gold–poly(3,4-)ethylenedioxythiophene (Au–PEDOT) composite with variant morphology was synthesized through interfacial polymerization at room temperature in the absence of a template, phase transfer catalyst or surfactant. A systematic variation of the relative concentration of the reactants yields morphologies typical of nanorods of diameter approximately 20–30 nm and length of few 0.5–1 μm. Transmission electron microscopy reveals the structure of the nanowire to be the one in which the core is Au and the outer shell is made of PEDOT. Oligomer formation, speculated during the interfacial reaction was confirmed by the analysis of the organic phase using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques.