title: Synthesis of PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres with catalytic and antibacterial activities.
abstract: This paper describes a simple, mild, and environmentally friendly approach to synthesize polystyrene/Ag (PS/Ag) nanocomposite spheres, which makes use of both reducing and stabilizing functions of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in aqueous media. In this approach, monodisperse polystyrene (PS) spheres, which are used as templates for the synthesis of core-shell nanocomposite spheres, are sulfonated first. Then, [Ag(NH(3))(2)](+) ions are adsorbed onto the surface of the PS template spheres via electrostatic attraction between -SO(3)H groups (grafted on the surface of the PS template spheres) and [Ag(NH(3))(2)](+) ions. [Ag(NH(3))(2)](+) ions are then reduced by and simultaneously protected by PVP. In this way, the PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres in aqueous media are obtained through a so-called one-pot method. Neither additional reducing agents nor toxic organic solvents are utilized during the synthesis process. Furthermore, the coverage degree and the particle size of Ag nanoparticles on PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres is easily tuned by changing the concentration of [Ag(NH(3))(2)](+) ions in aqueous media. Moreover, these PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres can be used as catalyst for the reduction of organic dyes and as antibacterial agents against Salmonella and Escherichia coli. In the present study, these PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres exhibit excellent catalytic properties (both in efficiency and recyclability) for the reduction of organic dyes, and the preliminary antibacterial assays indicate that these PS/Ag nanocomposite spheres also possess extraordinary antibacterial abilities against Salmonella and Escherichia coli.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China. zwdeng@snnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Ziwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Haibao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.forename: Pujun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Juanli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011205:Povidone / Q000737:chemistry; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007477:Ions; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012834:Silver; D011205:Povidone