Flash nanoprecipitated polymer supported Ag nanocatalysts for dye removal

Abstract

Transition metal supported on colloidal polymer nanoparticles are very useful in the field of catalysis. Catalyst metals are generally more efficient in this form than they are in bulk. However, most methods of producing nanoparticles of this type involve multiple steps and/or complicated, time-consuming processes. These are generally unable to be scaled up for industrial purposes. We report a scalable, one-step method to produce silver on polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (Ag@PS-b-P4VP) nanoparticles through flash nanoprecipitation (FNP). This method also allows for the general tuning of particle size. These particles demonstrate the ability to catalyze the reduction reaction of dye rhodamine B (RhB) by sodium borohydride (NaBH\(_{4}\)). Thus, the particles can be used to remove organic dyes like RhB from wastewater.