Particle size tuning in silver-polyacrylonitrile nanocomposites
A. Tyurin, G. De Filpo, D. Cupelli, F. P. Nicoletta, A. Mashin, G. Chidichimo
Vol. 4., No.2., Pages 71-78, 2010
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2010.12
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2010.12
Corresponding author: G. De Filpo 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Silver-polyacrylonitrile (Ag-PAN) nanocomposites were in situ synthesized by simultaneous polymerization of acrylonitrile and reduction of silver ions, starting from mixtures of silver nitrate (AgNO3), acrylonitrile (AN), and UV photoinitiator (IN). The films obtained proved to be transparent and were characterized by a homogeneous dispersion of Ag nanoparticles within the PAN matrix without any macroscopic agglomeration. The particle size and number density were found to depend on both precursor salt and UV photoinitiator weight percentages. Optical and electrical properties were investigated as a function of both AgNO3 and IN amounts, too. We found that it is possible to finely tailor the metal nanoparticle size and number density and, consequently, the film optical and electrical response by adjusting the amounts of precursor salt and UV photoinitiator in the initial mixtures.
