Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticle/polyaniline nanocomposites

Abstract

Novel dodecanethiol-capped silver nanoparticle (NP)/polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites were prepared via the in situ polymerization of aniline in a metal NP containing medium. Sample PANI/Ag-1 was obtained by the polymerization of aniline in an aqueous solution in the presence of powdered NPs, and sample PANI/Ag-2 was obtained by a two-phase reaction, in which a toluene solution of silver NPs and aniline were mixed with an acidic aqueous solution of ammonium persulphate (that acts as an oxidizing agent in the aniline polymerization). Fourier transform IR, Raman and UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed PANI formation in both samples. Transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images indicate that silver NPs were homogeneously dispersed on a polymer mass, and new Ag/PANI core–shell material was observed on PANI/Ag-2.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank CNPq and Rede de Materiais Nanoestruturados (MCT/FINEP) for financial support, Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica–UFPR and Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica–LNLS for the TEM and HRTEM images, LEM-IQ-USP for the Raman spectra. M.M.O. thanks CAPES for a fellowship.