Role of grafted chains for the in situ formation of Ag nanoparticles within poly(epichlorohydrin)- g-polymethacrylate films

Abstract

Two kinds of amphiphilic comb-like copolymer, i.e., poly(epichlorohydrine)- g-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PECH- g-PMMA) and poly(epichlorohydrine)- g-poly(butyl methacrylate) (PECH- g-PBMA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using directly initiating the chlorine atoms of PECH macroinitiator. The amphiphilic comb-like copolymers were used as a template film for the in situ growth of silver nanoparticles from AgCF 3SO 3 precursor using NaBH 4. UV–visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that (1) Ag nanoparticles were selectively confined in the comb-like polymer films persisting microphase-separated morphology and (2) Ag nanoparticles (4–7 nm) formed in PECH- g-PBMA were smaller than those in PECH- g-PMMA (6–11 nm). This represents that the longer hydrophobic side chains in a comb-like copolymer is more effective in controlling the formation of metal nanoparticles.