Metal nanoparticle-sulfonated polyester composites and green methods of making the same

Abstract

A method includes heating a sulfonated polyester resin in an organic-free solvent adding an aqueous solution of silver (I) ion to the heated resin to form a mixture and heating the mixture to effect the reduction of silver (I) ion to silver (0) in the absence of an external reducing agent. A composite includes a sulfonated polyester matrix and a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix; the composite lacks trace residual byproducts from external reducing agents.

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         15 . A composite comprising:
 a sulfonated polyester matrix; and   a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix,
 wherein the composite lacks trace residual byproducts from external reducing agents due to the formation of the plurality of silver nanoparticles in situ by reduction of silver ion mediated by the sulfonated polyester matrix itself. 
   
     
     
         16 . The composite of  claim 15 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix is a branched polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The composite of  claim 15 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix is a sodium, lithium, or potassium salt of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(1,2-propylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), poly(neopentylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), poly(diethylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), copoly-(1,2-propylene-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(1,2-propylene-terphthalate), copoly-(1,2-propylenediethylenesodio-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(1,2-propylene-diethylene-terephthalatephthalate), copoly(ethylene-neopentylene-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(ethylene-neopentylene-terephthalatephthalate), and copoly(propoxylated bisphenol A)-copoly-(propoxylated bisphenol A-sodio 5-sulfoisophthalate). 
     
     
         18 . The composite of  claim 15 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a polyol monomer unit selected from the group consisting of trimethylolpropane, 1,2-propanediol, diethylene glycol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composite of  claim 15 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a diacid monomer unit selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, sulfonated isophthalic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The composite of  claim 15 , wherein a loading of silver is present in the composite is in a range from about 100 ppm to about 10,000 ppm.