Facile method to synthesise polystyrene/silver composite nanoparticles with core–shell structures

We report a facile method for the fabrication of polystyrene/silver composite nanoparticles with core–shell nanostructures. First, polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles with carboxyl acid groups on their surfaces were prepared via the dispersion polymerisation of styrene in water with the assistance of acrylic acid. Second, with the addition of [Ag(NH3)2]+ to the PS dispersion, [Ag(NH3)2]+ was absorbed onto the surfaces of the modified PS nanoparticles. Finally, the [Ag(NH3)2]+ complex ions were reduced to Ag to form the PS/Ag nanocomposites upon heating. The resulting PS/Ag composite nanoparticles were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering.