Patent ID: 8279435

Claim:
An electrodeless method of forming a metal-PANI composite comprising: contacting a metal ion solution with a PANI porous asymmetric membrane comprising at least one surface and an underlying layer, wherein the PANI porous asymmetric membrane is doped with an acidic dopant selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, mandelic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, para-toluenesulfonic acid, and combinations thereof and wherein said metal ion is characterized as its salt form having a reduction potential greater than that of the polyaniline, for a period of time sufficient to deposit the metal onto at least one surface of the membrane such that (i) said underlying layer is substantially free from the deposited metal and (ii) said metal deposited onto the at least one surface of the membrane is characterized as having a morphology that corresponds to said acidic dopant.