No abstract

The formation of sodium citrate stabilized spherical silver nanoparticles synthesized by homogeneous nucleation in aqua solutions was monitored by the method of direct potentiometry. It was observed that the kinetic curve of Ag+ ions reduction can be described by the Finke–Watzky (FW) autocatalytic two–step mechanism in the case of a large excess of hydrazine and NaOH. To expand the FW minimalistic model, the impact of the starting concentrations of the reagents on the kinetics of Ag nanoparticles synthesis was studied. It was determined that the nucleation stage is limited by the homogeneous process of ions Ag+ reduction, and the reaction orders for the all reagents are calculated. A surface–dependent model of Ag nanoparticle growth is proposed, which takes into account the change in the hydrazine and alkali concentrations; the rate constants of the pseudoelementary reactions are also calculated.

Theoretical models predict that a variety of self-assembled structures of closely packed spherical particles may result when they are confined in a cylindrical domain. In the present work we demonstrate for the first time that the polymer-coated nanoparticles confined in the self-assembled cylindrical domains of a block copolymer pack in helical morphology, where we can isolate individual fibers filled with helically arranged nanoparticles. This finding provides unique possibilities for fundamental as well as application-oriented research in similar directions.

Silica-supported silver nanoparticles (Ag/SiO2) encapsulated inside the PNIPAM-based microcapsules (MC) were proved to be an efficient and easy-to-handle catalyst. Due to the hydrophilic nature of MCs, they act as microreactors in a mixed organic–aqueous environment. It was demonstrated that the catalytic activity of encapsulated Ag/SiO2 substantially exceeds that of freely dispersed catalyst.