Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles-Nafion Membrane Composite by Photoreduction Process

Abstract

Preparation method of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) dispersed in Nafion 115 membrane using UV photoreduction process was established. The loading amount of AgNPs was controlled with UV irradiation time. AgNPs might exist in ionic cluster channel in Nafion membrane stably without any stabilizing reagent. The particle size was measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mean particle size was ca. 13 nm in diameter. The obtained nanocomposite membrane has absorption bands due to local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at around 400 nm. The band position depends on the refractive index of suspension as expected by Mie theory. Furthermore very little amount of solvent affected the LSPR bands sensitively due to changing the highly localized refractive index.