Facile Solventless Synthesis of a Nylon-6,6/Silver Nanoparticles Composite and Its XPS Study

Raúl A Morales-Luckie,Gustavo López-Téllez,Víctor Sánchez-Mendieta,Jesús Arenas-Alatorre,L Huerta,Alfredo R Vilchis-Nestor,Oscar Olea-Mejia,Víctor Varela-Guerrero

doi:10.1155/2013/235850

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized and supported on thin nylon membranes by means of a simple method of impregnation and chemical reduction of Ag ions at ambient conditions. Particles of less than 10 nm were obtained using this methodology, in which the nylon fibers behave as constrained nanoreactors. Pores on nylon fibres along with oxygen and nitrogen from amide moieties in nylon provide effective sites forin situreduction of silver ions and for the formation and stabilization of Ag nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that silver nanoparticles are well dispersed throughout the nylon fibers. Furthermore, an interaction between nitrogen of amides moieties of nylon-6,6 and silver nanoparticles has been found by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Highlights

Research on the synthesis of mesoporous materials containing nanoparticles represents a fast-developing area of nanoscience and nanotechnology
An interaction between nitrogen of amides moieties of nylon-6,6 and silver nanoparticles has been found by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
Silver particles with a narrow size distribution have been produced upon reversible chemical transformation between metallic and oxide states in a titania matrix [14] and in a mesoporous silica which was grafted with hydrophobic –Si(CH3)3 groups at the pore surface [15]

Summary

Introduction

Research on the synthesis of mesoporous materials containing nanoparticles represents a fast-developing area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This interest is stimulated by several possible application areas of these materials including catalytic [1], magnetic [2], and optoelectronic [3, 4]. Synthetic nylon membranes have a porous structure [16] and are composed of microfibrils that are interconnected forming a three-dimensional network. Such morphological features provide a unique reaction vessel for synthesizing and supporting metal nanoparticles, allowing enhanced access of guest molecules to catalytic centres, compared with nonporous films. Using porous nylon fibers as unique nanoreactors to generate a nylon-6,6/silver nanoparticles composite, is reported

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusions