Stability Analysis: Rational Design of a Ag Nanoparticle/Polymer Brush for Fabricating Cu Coating on a PET Surface

Excellent stability of a catalytic center would facilitate the prolongation of the cycle of a chemical plating bath and the reduction of environmental pollution. In this study, silane (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) and γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propytrimethoxysilane (KH560)) was incorporated in AgNO₃ solution to rationally prepare a Ag nanoparticle/polymer brush (Ag/PB) catalytic solution. The effects of the KH560 relative content on the Ag/PB structure and stability were studied. The epoxy group in the KH560 could react with an amino group in the KH550 through direct ring-opening reaction to form a secondary amino group and hydroxyl, which could coadsorb Ag nanoparticles by means of a chelating structure; hence, Ag/PB with superior Ag-adsorbed intensity was established on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface. Ag particles on PB with 75% KH560 revealed the best stability of those measured, and the relative Ag surplus was 56.7% after stability testing. The generated Ag/PB that served as catalytic centers to catalyze the electroless copper plating resulted in a facile technology for preparing Cu/PET composite material. This means that the technology has potential application in a green process for preparing metal/polymer composite materials.