Nitrogen-mediated interaction in polyacrylamide-silver nanocomposites

Polyacrylamide (PAM)-silver nanocomposite materials have been synthesized by the reduction of the silver salt in the polyacrylamide matrix. Silver nanoparticles embedded in the polymer matrix, observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), suggests attractive polymer-particle interaction. Detailed spectroscopic investigations have been carried out on the nanocomposite samples using a range of techniques to understand the nature of the interaction. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) core level spectra and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results indicate that the nanoparticles are attached to the pendant group of the polymer through physical interactions. The XPS valence band study confirms that the interaction between the polymer and the silver nanoparticles occurs through partial charge transfer from the metal particles to the nitrogen sites of the polymer side chains. The modifications associated with the silver nanoparticles are mainly due to confinement effects.