Facile method to prepare poly(S-co-HEA)/Ag nanocomposite particles with high efficient catalytic activity and surface enhanced Raman scattering

Surface hydroxyl-functionalized poly(styrene- co -hydroxyethyl acrylate) [P( S - co -HEA)] microsphere were used to prepare P( S - co -HEA)/silver composite particles. Based on the weak interaction between silver ions and hydroxyl, silver ions were adsorbed onto the polymer surface and reduced by diethanolamine (DEA). The morphology of P( S - co -HEA)/Ag was easily controlled by the molar ratio of DEA/AgNO 3 . The composite particles were characterized by SEM, XRD, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The obtained P( S - co -HEA)/Ag particles with small and denser silver nanoparticles showed a high efficient activity to catalyze reduction of methylene blue (MB). While the P( S - co -HEA)/Ag particles with big and denser silver nanoparticles showed highly sensitive Raman enhanced performance.