Applications of UV/Vis Spectroscopy in Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Noble Metal Nanoparticles Fabricated in Responsive Polymer Microgels: A Review

Abstract

Noble metal nanoparticles loaded smart polymer microgels have gained much attention due to fascinating combination of their properties in a single system. These hybrid systems have been extensively used in biomedicines, photonics, and catalysis. Hybrid microgels are characterized by using various techniques but UV/Vis spectroscopy is an easily available technique for characterization of noble metal nanoparticles loaded microgels. This technique is widely used for determination of size and shape of metal nanoparticles. The tuning of optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles under various stimuli can be studied using UV/Vis spectroscopic method. Time course UV/Vis spectroscopy can also be used to monitor the kinetics of swelling and deswelling of microgels and hybrid microgels. Growth of metal nanoparticles in polymeric network or growth of polymeric network around metal nanoparticle core can be studied by using UV/Vis spectroscopy. This technique can also be used for investigation of various applications of hybrid materials in catalysis, photonics, and sensing. This tutorial review describes the uses of UV/Vis spectroscopy in characterization and catalytic applications of responsive hybrid microgels with respect to recent research progress in this area.

Size‐dependent antibacterial properties of Ag nanoparticles supported by amino‐functionalized poly(GMA‐co‐EGDMA) polymer

“…The distinct surface plasmon resonance bands in the wavelength range 400–450 nm can be observed, indicating that silver particles attached to polymer support functionalized with either 1,8‐diaminooctane or ammonia are nanometer in size. Thus, the optical properties determined by reflection spectroscopy is in agreement with the TEM analysis of G/C8–NH 2 /Ag and G/NH 2 /Ag hybrids .…”

Fundamentals and applications of acrylamide based microgels and their hybrids: a review

“…Phase transition kinetics of P(NIPAM-Am) microgels was studied by Wang et al using UV-visible spectroscopy 1 which is an excellent tool for this purpose. 50 The value of transmittance of the microgel samples containing different Am contents measured at their VPTT was found to be decreased with time and became constant at deswelling equilibrium. The time required to attain deswelling equilibrium was increased with increase of Am contents.…”

“…13 The potential of this technique for characterization of smart polymer microgels and their hybrids for different applications has been recently reviewed by our group. 50 TGA, DSC and DMA are used for investigation of thermal stability of P(NIPAM-Am) microgels and their hybrids. TGA is also useful for determination of metal content in P(NIPAM-Am) microgels loaded with metal nanoparticles.…”

Comparative Study on the Influence of Noble Metal Nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd) on the Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO NPs Embedded in Renewable Castor Oil Polymer Matrices

“…First, the photocatalytic performance of our composite films (M1, M1-Ag, M1-Au and M1-Pd) was evaluated in the decomposition of an organic dye, namely methyl orange (MO), under visible light irradiation. The MO aqueous solution (5 × 10 −5 M) subjected to the above conditions was analysed through UV-vis spectroscopy, technique appropriate for the nanocatalysis field to monitor the reaction kinetics [49]. A blank experiment was also realized, the pure MO solution in the absence of the photocatalyst was subjected to visible light irradiation for 300 min, the degradation degree attained being 6.2% (Table 2), which was assigned to MO photolysis, not decomposition.…”