Deposition of silver nanoparticles on single wall carbon nanotubes via a self assembled block copolymer micelles

Abstract

We demonstrate a facile route to decorate the surface of networked single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The method is based on utilization of either spherical poly(styrene- b-4vinylpyridine) (PS- b-P4VP) or cylindrical poly(styrene- b-acrylic acid) (PS- b-PAA) copolymer micelles capable of stabilizing nanotubes in solution and subsequently forming a thin and uniform block copolymer/SWNTs composite film upon spin coating. The selective doping of silver acetate into either P4VP or PAA domains in a thin composite film, followed by thermal treatment, results in the formation of Ag NPs in the cores of micelles. Further heat treatment at 500 °C sufficiently high for degrading both block copolymers allows us to fabricate a thin SWNTs network in which Ag NPs are efficiently deposited on the surface of nanotubes. A sharp surface plasmon absorption band around 400 nm of the networked SWNTs with Ag NPs confirms the presence of Ag NPs with narrow distribution in their size.