Stabilization of Silver Nanoparticles in Water with a Cationic Copolymer Based on Poly(Aminoethyl Methacrylate)

Abstract—It has been shown that a cationic copolymer based on poly(aminoethyl methacrylate) is capable of stabilizing silver nanoparticle dispersions in aqueous media. Nanoparticles have been prepared via chemical reduction of AgNO₃ in an aqueous solution with sodium borohydride in the presence of a cationic random terpolymer—poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-methyl-2-aminoethyl methacrylate-co-N,N-dimethyl-2-aminoethyl methacrylate). Spectrophotometry has been employed to show that silver dispersions formed in the presence of the copolymer are stable for a long time (more than half a year). Using dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy, consistent information has been obtained on the sizes and size distribution of the stabilized nanoparticles.