A lot of efforts for the design and development of integrated systems possessing multiple functionalities has been put forward. Incorporation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) into polymer matrices has attracted interest, offering the possibility to create multi-functional hybrid materials combining the attributes of polymers (flexibility, processability and mechanical durability) with the opto-electrical properties of NPs. Here, synthesis of a self-supporting, hierarchically structured Au NP-network polymer nanocomposite was accomplished via a “one-pot” reaction employing a mesophase of HAuCl4- and a imidazolium based ionic liquid containing a polymerizable acrylate group in an aqueous environment. In-situ generation of Au NPs was catalyzed by triethanolamine reduction of HAuCl4- with concomitant initiation of the free-radical polymerization of the mesophase. FT-IR and thermal analysis confirmed acrylate cross-linking to yield the network polymer. X-ray scattering (SAXS) confirms preservation of the mesophase within the Au NP composite. TEM showed a distribution of the Au NP within the composite of different morphologies and sizes. Addition of a crosslinking agent (PEG diacrylate) allowed for manipulation of the swelling factor of the Au NP polymerized ionic liquid composite in a solvent, providing means to modulate the plasmonic resonance of the Au NPs through changing polymer dynamics. This methodology provides means for organizing NPs within the structured regions of the poly(ionic liquid) matrix. Such composites may be of interest for photonic or sensing applications. Additionally this methodology was successfully applied to create a hetero-nanoparticle composite with the colloidal Au NPs positioned in the aqueous regions and surface functionalized QDs in the lipophilic domains.

Cascade synthesis of gold nanoparticles in a self-assembled ionic liquid polymer nanocomposite

254th National Meeting (2017)

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