Microwave-Assisted Coating of PMMA beads by silver nanoparticles

Microwave (MW) irradiation was found to be a new technique for coating silver nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 31 nm onto the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA beads (3 mm diameter). The microwave polyol reduction was carried out under an argon atmosphere. Silver nanoparticles were obtained by the MW irradiation of a solution mixture containing silver nitrate (or silver acetate), poly(ethylene glycol), ethanol, water, and 24 wt % aqueous ammonia for 5 min in the presence of PMMA beads, yielding a PMMA-nanosilver composite. By controlling the atmosphere and reaction conditions, we could achieve the deposition of silver nanoparticles onto the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) and vary the amount of the silver anchored to the surface. The resulting silver-deposited PMMA samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and volumetric titration with potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) according to the Folgard method.