Polymer based nanocomposites were obtained by dispersing colloidal silver within a three block copolymer (polystyrene - block polyisoprene - block polystyrene) purchased from Sigma Aldrich. The silver colloids were synthesized from AgNO3 water solution. The polymer-based nanocomposite was obtained by dissolving the polymer in chloroform, adding the homogenized colloidal silver water solution to the polymer solution, followed by sonication of the fluid mixture at 800 W using a high power sonicator. The mixture was sonicated for one hour without cooling. The as obtained homogenized solution was poured on a glass slide and the solvent was remove by heating in an oven at 90 oC for about 10 hours. Half of the as obtained nanocomposite was labeled as generation 1 sample and kept for spectroscopic investigations. The other half of the nanocomposite was again dissolved in chloroform. The as obtained solution was stirred for 2 hours, sonicated for 1 hour without cooling and finally poured on a glass slide and placed into a oven heated at 90 oC for about 10 hours. This series was labelled as generation 2. The generation 2 nanocomposites contained almost no water traces. Nanocomposites of generation 1 and 2 containing various amounts of silver have been prepared. The as obtained films have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy using a Renshaw InVia spectrometer, operating at 785 and 532 nm, by FTIR using a Bruker spectrometer, and by Wide Angle X-Ray Spectroscopy using a Bruker Discover 8 spectrometer. The research focuses on the potential use of nanocomposites for surface enhanced Raman, where the potential land scape generated by the self-assembly of the block copolymer may provide the required roughness for an efficient enhancement of the Raman effect.

Raman investigations on nanocomposites of colloidal silver in block copolymers

251st National Meeting (2016)

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