A novel Au/electroactive poly(amic acid) composite as an effective catalyst for -nitrophenol reduction.

A Au/electroactive poly(amic acid) (Au/EPAA) composite was synthesized and characterized, and its catalytic ability was evaluated. EPAA was synthesized oxidative coupling polymerization and Au nanoparticles were anchored to the amino and carboxyl groups. The Au/EPAA composite was characterized X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed that the Au nanoparticles were well dispersed on the EPAA surface. -Nitrophenol was reduced to -aminophenol within 5 min at room temperature, with a rate constant of 0.84 min. Cycling measurements showed that the Au/EPAA composite achieved higher than 92% conversion. The Au/EPAA composite showed excellent performance and stability as a catalyst for the reduction of -nitrophenol to -aminophenol.