In situ preparation of Au or Ag nanoparticles in the presence of hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)s with hydrophobic end-groups as nanoreactors and reductants

Hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)s with methyl ester terminals (HPAMAM-COOCH3) were used as nanoreactors and reductants to prepare gold or silver nanoparticles (Au NPs or Ag NPs). HPAMAM-COOCH3 could bind AuCl4 (or Ag+) and then reduce AuCl4 (or Ag+) into Au NPs (or Ag NPs) through their internal amines, while the external methyl ester groups prevented the aggregation of polymers. The formation of Au NPs or Ag NPs was verified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), confirming the formation of Au NPs or Ag NPs with small particle size and low size distribution.POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers