Synthesis of Poly(urethane acrylate‐co‐styrene) Films Containing Silver Nanoparticles by a Simultaneous Copolymerization/in situ Electron Transfer Reaction

Summary: A novel process for the synthesis of nanocomposite films containing silver nanoparticles is presented. Unlike conventional synthetic processes, silver nanoparticles and the polymer film constituting the nanocomposite film were synthesized simultaneously through an in situ electron transfer reaction and the copolymerization of styrene and amphiphilic urethane acrylate nonionomer (UAN), which contains hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide) segments and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) segments along the same backbone. Silver nitrate crystals were first dissolved in a UAN/styrene solution through the formation of a complex between silver salts and the poly(ethylene oxide) chains of UAN, and then the transparent solutions obtained were directly converted to transparent free‐standing films containing silver nanoparticles by copolymerization and an electron transfer reaction by radicals. The amount of radical initiator strongly influenced the size and number of silver nanoparticles formed within the polymer films. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and characteristic UV absorbance spectra. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic microphase separation in the UAN/styrene solution was also confirmed by TEM and mechanical property measurements.

TEM image of poly(urethane‐co‐styrene) film containing silver nanoparticles.