Preparation and characterisation of smart polymer-metal nanocomposite: optical and morphological study

摘要

The paper reports a novel polymer-metal nanocomposite. The composite structure is in the form of annular polydiacetylene (PDA) nanovesicles surrounded by silver nanoparticles both on the outer as well as inner surfaces of the vesicle structure. The synthesis route has been described in detail and the rationale behind the synthesis procedure has been discussed. The composite structure has been characterised by UV-Vis spectroscopy while its morphology has been studied based on the result of transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction pattern. Our synthesis procedure does not require any catalyst, contrary to what has been reported in the literature. The coupling between π-electrons of PDA and free electrons of silver nanoparticles in the composite system is particularly useful for nonlinear optical applications. We have also outlined some of the strategies that could be explored in future so that such composite system could be a better potential candidate for photonic devices.