Polymer colloids and silver nanoparticles hybrid materials

The present study presents two different methods to obtain hybrid material formed by the poly [styrene (ST)–poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) 1100] and silver (Ag⁰). The aim has been to cover the polymeric particles with Ag⁰ shell. The first method consisted of mixing Ag⁰ nanoparticles dispersion with poly (ST-PEGMA 1100) dispersion, while in the second method, the Ag⁰ nanoparticles have been generated in situ. The hybrid materials have been characterized by MO, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry, and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The results confirm the obtaining of two types of morphologies. In the first case, the nanoparticles have been arranged in the interspatial zones of the polymer particles, while in the second method, the Ag⁰ nanoparticles have covered the polymer particles. Thus, the film obtained using the second method is more suitable for the practical application, as a separation membrane, using the antiseptic properties of Ag⁰.