Polymer nanocapsules entrapping metal nanoparticles
View Patent ↗Metal nanoparticles entrapped or encapsulated in a polymer nanocapsule disclosed. Methods of making and using the metal nanoparticles entrapped or encapsulated in a polymer nanocapsule are also disclosed.
1. A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule, the method comprising polymerizing monomers to form the polymer nanocapsule and simultaneously forming the metal nanoparticle.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monomers are polymerized using a free-radical initiator.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monomers are polymerized in a lipid bilayer.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer of a liposome.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle is a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, platinum, palladium, and gold.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle is silver.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer nanocapsule is a copolymer of a styrene with divinylbenzene.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer nanocapsule is a copolymer of tert-butylstyrene with divinylbenzene.
9. A metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule, prepare according to the method of claim 1 .
10. The metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule of claim 9 , wherein the metal nanoparticle is a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, platinum, palladium, and gold.
11. The metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule of claim 10 , wherein the metal nanoparticle is silver.
12. The metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule of claim 9 , wherein the polymer nanocapsule is a copolymer of a styrene with divinylbenzene.
13. The metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule of claim 12 , wherein the polymer nanocapsule is a copolymer of tert-butylstyrene with divinylbenzene.
14. A catalyst comprising a metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule according to claim 9 .
15. A sensor comprising a metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule according to claim 9 .
16. A method of performing a metal-catalyzed reaction, the method comprising contacting a reactant with a metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule according to claim 9 .
17. A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle entrapped in a polymer nanocapsule, the method comprising:
providing an aqueous phase containing vesicles, wherein the aqueous phase includes a metal salt and the vesicles comprise at least one monomer; and
polymerizing the at least one monomer to form the polymer nanocapsule and simultaneously forming the metal nanoparticle entrapped in the polymer nanocapsule.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one monomer is polymerized in a lipid bilayer of the vesicles.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer of a liposome.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the metal nanoparticle is formed by free-radical reduction of a metal ion dissolved in an aqueous solvent phase.