Microwave-assisted synthesis of hybrid colloids for design of conducting films

We report synthesis of colloids with polymer core and inorganic shell consisting of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which can be used as building blocks for the preparation of conducting composite films. Polymer colloids based on copolymer of styrene and butyl acrylate with variable film formation temperature and functional surface have been prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization. Polymer particles with average size between 140 nm and 220 nm and narrow size distribution were used as templates for deposition of AgNPs by microwave-assisted reduction of silver precursors in aqueous medium. The loading of the AgNPs on the polymer particle surface has been increased up to 60 wt.-%. Obtained hybrid colloids were used for preparation of composite films. The electrical conductivity of the composite films starts to increase if the AgNPs loading on the polymer particle surface is above 20 wt.-%.