A Nano-hybrid Silver Colloidal Suspension Preparation

To avoid the loss of precious metal catalysts on carriers, a simple approach is introduced for sliver colloids having anchorages hooked onto inorganic substrate surfaces. This method is based on the nanoreactor of solubilized copolymer micelles for the fabrication of Ag sphere particles. The hydrolysis of tert-butyl acrylate yields acrylic acid and a tri-block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid)-bpoly( γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane) (PS-PAA-PMPS), with PMPS as active functional moieties, was synthesized and characterized which can play strong interaction with inorganic substrates surface as an anchorage. The PS-PAA-PMPS copolymer solution was prepared to solubilize metal salts to prepare nanoparticles as nanoreactors for in situ reduction. The degree of solubility increased with the increased hydrophilic PAA units but it was also restricted by its dimensional size resisting solubilization. Spherical particles in diameters of 10~30 nm were well dispersed and SEM images showed the hybrid silver colloids remaining on the glass substrate due to their firm adherence after elution. It was demonstrated that this special polymerprotected system provides a successful way for nanoparticles to form anchorage onto the glass surface with firm adhesion and stable properties. This kind of silver colloids conveniently form firm and stable coatings onto the glass substrate which might give longer service life as catalysts to be used in electromagnetic interference shielding,anti-microbial uses and catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol.