This report discloses the preparation
of a series of polyacrylamide
materials with unique surface morphology. Polyacrylamide with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide cross-linking
provides reactive sites for the reduction of silver nitrate. The reaction
refurbishes the relatively smooth polymer surface to clusters of submicron
cubes impregnated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and residual Ag(+1)
ions. Subsequent treatment with NaBH4 grows additional
silver structures from the AgNPs seeded in the polymer to give an
overall morphology reminiscent of the famous great barrier reefs,
the namesake of this materialthe Great Barrier Gel (GBG).
The GBG surface features a high content of active silver nanostructures.
The use of GBG as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering
(SERS) and a film catalyst for the methanolysis of NaBH4 demonstrates its versatility. The SERS sensitivity of this material
is 10–10 M, or better, as assessed using 4-aminophenyl
disulfide. It catalyzes the production of H2 by the methanolysis
of NaBH4 without significant loss of activity in an exhaustion
test. These methods create an enlarged surface area on the shape-adapting
polymer material, chemically and productively, while generating a
least amount of chemical waste.
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