A new type of gasochromic material: conducting polymers with catalytic nanoparticles

Abstract

We report the first observation of gasochromism for a material based on a thin film of polyaniline:polystyrene sulfonate/platinum nanoparticles (PANI:PSS/PtNPs). This novel material displayed a significant colour change, from green to pale yellow, when exposed to hydrogen. Our results show that the PtNPs trigger a reductive reaction on the polymer surface. This new mechanism dramatically expands the selection of available gasochromic materials.