Optical properties of silver nanoparticle/azopolymer nanocomposites

MARTINA DEL CERRO; MARÍA J. GALANTE; P.A. OYANGUREN

Chiang Mai

Simposio; Macro 2014; 2014

In the current work, we developed an approach to the synthesis of a new class of hybrid polymer system by reduction of silver atoms with the formation of metal nanoparticles dispersed, stabilized by alkyl chains (dodecylamine), in azobenzene containing polymers. Homogeneous polymer/noble metal nanocomposites were prepared by reduction of Ag(I) organic complex in the epoxy-amine polymers synthesized with variable dodecylamine/chromophore contents. The process of preparation involved previous dissolution of epoxy-amine polymers and the calculated amount of Ag(I) organic complex. Films of these precursors were obtained by spin-coating or drop-casting from the solutions onto several substrates for different measurements. Samples with different Ag element contents were prepared: 5 and 10 wt % Ag. The formation of Ag nanoparticles in these composites is proved by UV spectroscopy, FESEM and TEM analysis. The reversible optical storage properties of the nanocomposites were studied and compared. The main goal of the research was to study the influence of: a) silver nanoparticles, and b) nanostructuration process by the self-assembly of alkyl chains, on the optical properties of the nanocomposites