Silver-containing Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

Structure of nanocomposites based on interpolyelectrolyte complex and Ag nanoparticles, which formed by the chemical and thermochemical reduction methods from interpolyelectrolyte-metal complexes (IMC) have been investigated. It is established that chemical reduction of Ag+ions in the pectin - Ag+- poly(4-vinylpyridine) IMC, involving sodium borohydride at a molar ratio [BH4−]: [Ag+] ≥ 1.0 results in formation of the nanocomposite based on the, pectin-poly(4-vinylpyridine)” interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) and silver nanoparticles (Ag) as well. Another type of nanocomposites on the base of interpolyelectrolyte complexes, pectin-polyethyleneimine (PEI)” and Ag nanoparticles was obtained by both chemical and thermochemical reduction of Ag+ions in the polyelectrolyte-metal complexes. Such type of nanocomposites with Ag nanoparticles incorporated into polymer matrix is obtained due to the chemical reduction of Ag+ ions by NaBH4in the interpolyelectrolyte complex, and appearance of the silver metallic phase is observed in full extent while BH4−: Ag+molar ratio is equal to 2.0. It is defined that thermochemical reduction of Ag+ions in IMC bulk (while films are heated to the temperature around 100 °C and more) results in formation of silver-containing nanocomposites. It is supposed that thermal reduction takes place owing to electrons transfer from the amino groups' nitrogen atoms of polyethyleneimine to Ag+ions.