Preparation and characterization of polymer thin films containing silver and silver sulfide nanoparticles

• Published in: Thin solid films Vol. 359; no. 1; pp. 55 - 60
• Main Authors: Akamatsu, Kensuke, Takei, Shodo, Mizuhata, Minoru, Kajinami, Akihiko, Deki, Shigehito, Takeoka, Shinji, Fujii, Minoru, Hayashi, Shinji, Yamamoto, Keiichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.01.2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Ag 2S nanoparticles; Ag nanoparticles; Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer thin film; Technology of polymers; Thermal relaxation; Ag 2S nanoparticles; Polymer thin film; Ag nanoparticles; Thermal relaxation; Composite film; Sulfurization; Silver sulfide; Experimental study; Metal particle; Submicron particle; Silver; Particle size distribution; Amide 11 polymer; Optical properties; Manufacturing; Optical absorption
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/S0040-6090(99)00684-7

Composite thin films consisting of nano-sized Ag particles dispersed in nylon 11 thin films have been prepared by using a thermal relaxation technique. The films obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and optical absorption spectroscopy. The Ag nanoparticles with 4.5–9.1 nm in diameter were found to be isolated individually and dispersed uniformly in the nylon 11 matrix. The volume fraction and the mean size of Ag nanoparticles in the film could be controlled by varying the initial amount of Ag deposition. Optical absorption peak due to the surface plasmon resonance of the Ag particles were observed around 430 nm and shifted to a longer wavelength with increasing the mean size of Ag nanoparticles, and absorbance increased simultaneously. We have also prepared Ag 2S nanoparticles with 4.7–11.2 nm in diameter in nylon 11 films from exposing the Ag/nylon 11 films to H 2S/O 2 mixed gas. ED patterns of the particles formed after the reaction with H 2S were completely indexed as those of β-Ag 2S with a monoclinic structure. The onset of the optical absorption spectra is similar to that of bulk β-Ag 2S, suggesting that Ag 2S nanoparticles with diameter of ca. 5nm preserve the band structure of bulk Ag 2S.