Formation of silver nanoparticles created in situ in an amphiphilic block copolymer film

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2008-11, Vol.110 (4), p.2352-2357
• Main Authors: Park, Jung Tae, Koh, Joo Hwan, Lee, Kyung Ju, Seo, Jin Ah, Min, Byoung Ryul, Kim, Jong Hak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); block copolymers; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; nanocomposites; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.28261

In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized with an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, polystyrene-block-poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PS-b-PVP), as a template film. First, microphase-separated amphiphilic PS-b-PVP (70 : 30 wt %) was synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization. The self-assembled block copolymer film was used to template the growth of silver nanoparticles by the introduction of a silver trifluoromethanesulfonate precursor and an ultraviolet irradiation process. The insitu formation of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 4-6 nm within the block copolymer template film was confirmed with transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and wide-angle X-ray scattering. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also demonstrated the selective incorporation and insitu formation of silver nanoparticles within the hydrophilic poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) domains, which were mostly due to the stronger interaction strength of the silver with the carbonyl oxygens of poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) in the block copolymer. This work provides a simple route for the insitu synthesis of silver nanoparticles within a polymer film.