In situ synthesis of Ag-SiO2 Janus particles with epoxy functionality for textile applications

A facile method for the synthesis of silver silica (Ag-SiO2) Janus particles with functionalities suitable for textile applications is reported. Silica nanoparticles prepared by the Stober method were functionalized with epoxy, amine, and thiol groups, which were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. The functionalized silica nanoparticles were used to produce Pickering emulsions, and the exposed surface was used for the attachment of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via the low-temperature chemical reduction method. The morphology and structure of the Ag-SiO2 Janus particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Because of their specific functionalities, these Ag-SiO2 Janus particles are proposed for applications on textile substrates, as they can overcome several drawbacks of direct application of AgNPs on textiles, such as leaching, agglomeration, and instability during storage. (C) 2014 Chinese Society of Particuology and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.