Syntheses and characterisation of silver nanoparticles in the acrylate copolymers

Silver nanoparticles were synthesised by polyol method using copolymer templates under microwave heating. The copolymer templates were synthesised by reacting the synthesised macromonomers with comonomer using free radical polymerisation. The copolymers were characterised by Fourier Transform InfraRed, 1 H-NMR and 13 C-NMR. The copolymers were further characterised by gel permeation chromatography for molecular weights and thermogravimetric analysis for thermal stability. These copolymers were used as nanoreactors in the syntheses of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterised by various instrumental methods like UV-visible, FT-IR and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy to establish the average particle size and shape. Antibacterial activities of the copolymer-stabilised silver nanoparticles were tested on various microorganisms.