Effect of radical initiators on the size and formation of silver nanoclusters in poly(methyl methacrylate)

Silver nanoclusters in poly(methyl methacrylate) (Ag/PMMA) were prepared by bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate with radical initiators in the presence of silver(I) trifluoroacetate (AgTfa), followed by a period of hea ting. To compare the influence of the type of radical initiator on the form ation of Ag nanoclusters, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and benzoyl pe roxide (BPO) were chosen as initiators. On the basis of the characterizatio n of the solid sols of Ag/PMMA thus prepared, it was revealed by visible sp ectroscopy and TEM that the size of Ag nanoparticles increases with increas ing initial concentration of AIBN and decreases with increasing initial con centration of BPO.