Polymer hydrogels for stabilization of inorganic nanoparticles and their application in catalysis for degradation of toxic chemicals.

Poly(styrene-N-isopropylmethacrylamide-methacrylic acid) core-shell [P(SNM)CS] microgel particles were synthesised by seed-mediated emulsion polymerisation method. Silver nanoparticles were loaded into shell of P(SNM)CS microgels by in situ reduction of Ag+ ions. Synthesised core-shell microgels and hybrid core-shell microgels were characterised by using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). Stability of Ag nanoparticles within P(SNM)CS system was also investigated over the time using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Catalytic properties of silver nanoparticles loaded microgel system [Ag-P(SNM)CS] were studied by reducing Eosin-Y and Methylene blue with NaBH4 in water. The values of observed rate constant (kobs) were determined under different reaction conditions. The hybrid system was capable to degrade both dyes and may be used for degradation of several other toxic chemicals efficiently.