Coarsening of Silver Nanoparticles in Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

Abstract

In polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films assembled from poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and poly(styrene sulfonate) via the layer-by-layer deposition technique, the counterions were exchanged with silver ions, which were subsequently reduced in situ to produce silver (Ag) nanoparticles. The Ag nanoparticles embedded in the PEMs were found to undergo an interesting coarsening process over time, through which smaller Ag nanoparticles coalesce into larger ones until reaching an equilibrium. The process was investigated by monitoring the localized surface plasmon resonance of the Ag nanoparticles using UV-vis extinction spectroscopy, and the spectral evolution revealed an increase in nanoparticle size with time, a trend in qualitative agreement with theoretical calculation and further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The kinetics of the coarsening process and the size of Ag nanoparticles at equilibrium were found to be affected by the PEM structure as well as the temperature and relative humidity the PEM was exposed to, and coalescence was identified to be the mechanism.

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Tallow amphopolycarboxyglycinate-stabilized silver nanoparticles: new frontiers in development of plant protection products with a broad spectrum of action against phytopathogens

“…For example, Zan et al reported in situ preparation of AgNPs in PEMUs and showed that they exhibited lasting antimicrobial activity [28,29]. Wei et al further studied the stability of AgNPs in the PEMU matrixes [30].…”

Development of a ubiquitously transferrable silver‐nanoparticle‐loaded polymer nanosheet as an antimicrobial coating

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“…Although there are various methods of forming AgNPs inside polymer films, such as using reductants, or H 2 gas, photo‐reduction is one of the most common methods owing to its simplicity and site‐selectivity . A large number of studies have demonstrated the high antimicrobial efficiency of AgNP‐loaded polymer films . AgNPs are stably immobilized in these films, where they exert antimicrobial efficacy.…”