Formation of silver nanoplates layer on amino group grafted silica coatings

Abstract

In this study the self-arrangement of Ag nanoplates on (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) silanized silica coatings was investigated. Silica coatings were made by sol-gel method and silanized in two different ways. The first one includes silanization in acidic 2-propanol solution, the other one-in dry toluene. Coatings were silanized by using different amounts of APTES in case of silanization in 2-propanol. Silver nanoplates layer of functionalized silica coatings was obtained via self-assembly. Coatings were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle measurements (CA), FT-IR analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Research showed that dense Ag nanoplates arrangement occurs when there is a high amount of amino groups on the surface.