Photochemically Prepared Gold/Polymer Nanocoatings: Formation of Gold Mirror

Abstract

In this study a rapid method is developed to obtain Au nanoparticles (AuNPs)/polymer composite materials by which HAuCl4 salt is reduced and a polymer matrix is simultaneously generated by the means of UV light. 2‐Mercaptothioxanthone (TX‐SH), thioxanthone (TX), and TX + thiophenol are used as photoinitiator system for the poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate mixtures in the presence of HAuCl4. Except for a few studies, in situ reduction of Au ions, in an attempt to make them near or at polymer surface, has hardly been investigated at all. As a result of this study, it is important to note that the change of shape of NPs depends on the photoreducing species. TX‐SH, due to thiol functionality in its structure, helps the production of the size, shape, and controlled distribution of AuNPs either in polymer matrix or in solution. Prepared AuNPs/polymer nanocoatings exhibit a reflected gold mirror view depending on the irradiation time. In addition to the foregoing approach in obtaining a thin film in the presence of AuNPs, it is expected that they are well ordered near the film surface with controlled shape and narrow range in size distribution. image