One-step synthesis of silver nanoparticles by sonication or heating using amphiphilic block copolymer as templates

Block copolymer-supported Ag Nps (nanoparticles) have either a “cherry”-like or “raspberry”-like morphology [Antonietti, et al., Adv. Mater. 7 (1995) 1000–1005] depending on the amount of silver nitrate loading and the external conditions. Sonication favors silver nitrate and polyethyleneimine diffusion; the nucleation sites are well distributed in the micellar cores, so it is easy to form the cherry-like Ag NP colloids. However, when the amount of silver nitrate is decreased, it is heating that induces the formation of raspberry-like Ag NP colloids. The Ag NP colloids were investigated by transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate the nanosize dimensions and the location of the Ag NPs in the micelles. X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the crystal structure of the Ag NPs. UV–vis spectroscopy was employed for further qualitative characterization of the optical properties of Ag NPs.

Graphical abstractBy changing the level of silver nitrate loading and the external conditions, “cherry”- or “raspberry”-like silver nanoparticles can be produced.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide