We investigate the attachment of polymeric microgel particles based on poly(acrylic acid), PAA, poly(methacrylic acid), PMAA, and poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), PDEAEMA, onto inorganic surfaces. These microgels were synthesized as hosts for the impregnation of metal nanoparticles (Ru, Pd, etc.), which can be utilized as nanocatalysts when attached onto the walls of microfluidic reactors for various catalytic reactions of industrial interest. Their attachment can be significantly improved by the utilization of existing functional groups, such as the -COOH, or their incorporation; these functional groups create the appropriate binding of the carriers onto the solid surfaces. Various routes were followed in order to place a significant number of particles onto the surfaces. The Pickering emulsion method was utilized, which is to trap the particles at the interface between two fluids, as well as various treatments (e.g., thermal) to increase their stability onto the surfaces. The most successful procedure was the utilization of amine coupling, utilizing a (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane coupling agent, which leads to the covalent binding of the microgel particles onto the surfaces.  The durability of the anchored microgels against hydration and shear forces was tested utilizing repeated immersion of the surfaces into water undergoing mechanically-generated hydrodynamic flow or the macroscopic flow of water past the microgel-coated surfaces. Acknowledgements: Part of this research was sponsored by the European Union (POLYCAT) and by the Greek General Secretariat of Science and Technology (KRIPIS Action, project PROENYL).

Immobilization of polymer microgels containing metal nanocatalysts onto inorganic surfaces

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.