Study on Preparation and Characterization of Subsurface Silver Particulate Films on Polymer Blends of Polystyrene/Poly (2-Vinyl pyridine) /Poly (Vinylpyrollidone)/Poly (4-Vinyl pyridine)

Abstract

The polymer nanocomposites have been the exponentially growing field of research for developing the materials in last few decades. The remarkable improvement in the polymer nanocomposite is found when a small amount of nanosized particles is added to a polymer matrix. The addition of inorganic solid nanoparticles (typically in the form of fibres, flakes, spheres or fine particles) into polymer matrix increases their physical, structural and mechanical properties. Since the polymer–nano composites have been the staple of modern polymer industry, their durability under various environmental conditions and degradability after their service life are also essential fields of research. The successful application of nano particles depends upon both the correct preparation techniques followed by testing through characterization. Surface modification can improve the inherent characteristics of the nano particles and serve to prepare nano composites inexistent in nature. Therefore, some tools as their various properties like electrical, optical and morphological can be used to optimize the preparation of polymer nano composites. This leads to focus on preparation & characterization of polymer nanocomposite. This chapter will make an overview about the silver particulate thin films on softened polymer blends of Polystyrene (PS)/ Poly (2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), PS/ Poly (4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP), and Poly (vinylpyrollidone) (PVP)/P4VP deposited at a rate of 0.4 nm/s held at a temperature of 457 K in vacuum of 8×10-6 Torr by evaporation. These particulate thin films were characterized by their electrical behavior, optical properties and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Silver films deposited on softened PS, and PVP give rise to a very high room temperature resistance approaching that of the substrate resistance due to the formation of a highly agglomerated structure. On the other hand, silver films on softened P2VP and P4VP gives rise to a room temperature resistance in the range of tens to a few hundred M\(\Omega\)/\(\square\) which is desirable for device applications. Silver films on the composites of PS/ P2VP, PS/P4VP and PVP/P4VP show resistances at room temperature. The optical and plasmonic response of Ag nanoparticles onto thin layers of blends shows encapsulation of nanoparticles. The electrical properties and SEM of silver nanoparticles on the thin layers of polymer blends indicate the formation of much smaller, narrower dispersion and wide size distribution.