Abstract:

Amphiphilic diblock polystyrene-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PS-b-PNIPAM) was used as a template for metal-block copolymer nanocomposite formation. Diblock copolymers were synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) acted as a crosslinking agent between Ag ions (Ag nanoparticles) and PS-b-PNIPAM colloids and was the reducing agent during the formation of Ag nanoparticles. The product was characterized by Fourier transforminfrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Silver crystals were monocrystalline with face-centered cubic structures, which was confirmed by electron diffraction and XRD. Results revealed that the size and size distribution of the resulting silver nanoparticles based copolymer were strongly dependent on the ratio of the initial copolymer solution to silver concentration.

Key words: Silver nanoparticle, Amphiphilic diblock copolymer, Atomtransfer radical polymerization, Polyethyleneimine