Electrically conducting silver nanoparticle–polyacrylic acid hydrogel by in situ reduction and polymerization approach

•Electrically conducting silver nanoparticles–PAA hydrogel composite.•Optical and electrical property could be tuned by controlling size and shape of the silver nanoparticles.•Exhibited swelling dependent electrical conductivity.

Electrically conducting hydrogel nanocomposite based on silver nanoparticles–polyacrylic acid has been prepared by in situ polymerization of acrylic acid and reduction of silver ions using methylol urea as a gelling cum reducing agent at room temperature. Effect of silver ion concentration on the optical properties, morphology and conductivity was studied. Swelling dependent electrical conductivity results suggested that these hydrogels can be considered as a promising candidate in many advanced technological applications such as nanoelectronic devices, electric field controlled artificial muscles and so forth.

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