Use of Pluronic P103 Triblock Copolymer as Structural Agent during Synthesis of Hybrid Silver Nanoparticles

Tepale, Nancy; Fernández-Escamilla, Víctor V. A.; Flores-Aquino, Eric; Sánchez-Cantú, Manuel; Luna-Flores, Adan; González-Coronel, Valeria J.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9384072

Journal of Nanomaterials

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Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results and Discussion Conclusions Data Availability Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgments References Copyright Related Articles

Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2019 | Article ID 9384072 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9384072

Use of Pluronic P103 Triblock Copolymer as Structural Agent during Synthesis of Hybrid Silver Nanoparticles

Nancy Tepale,¹Víctor V. A. Fernández-Escamilla,²Eric Flores-Aquino,³Manuel Sánchez-Cantú,¹Adan Luna-Flores,¹and Valeria J. González-Coronel¹

Academic Editor: Thathan Premkumar

Received28 Sept 2019

Accepted03 Dec 2019

Published20 Dec 2019

Abstract

Dilute aqueous solutions of triblock copolymer Pluronic P103 were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by chemical reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). This copolymer was used as a structural agent since monomers act as a stabilizer and micelles act as nanoreactors for nucleation and growth of Ag-NPs. The growth of the nanoparticles (NPs) was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy on the basis of measuring surface plasmon resonance absorption over a temperature range of 25 to 70°C. Shape and size of hybrid silver/P103 nanomaterials were tuned by varying the micellar structure of Pluronic P103 using a simple synthesis procedure. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to study the size and shape of the hybrid nanomaterials. It was observed that Ag-NPs synthesized without Pluronic P103 at 25°C exhibited a great variety of sizes. However, when Pluronic P103 was used below its critical micellar concentration (CMC), spherical-shaped Ag-NPs with uniform size were formed, suggesting that the copolymer had a stabilizing effect. On the other hand, when Ag-NPs were prepared with Pluronic P103 above the CMC, NPs with similar sizes as the micelles were detected, suggesting that the copolymer functioned as a nanoreactor. Furthermore, as temperature reached 35°C, oval-shaped micelles were formed and small NPs were incorporated into the crown of the micelles. Independent Ag-NPs were not observed since they used the surface of the micelles as a soft template. Therefore, it was possible to obtain tiny Ag-NPs with homogeneous size.

1. Introduction

Metal NPs can perform as smart structures due to certain inherent properties that make them suitable for potential technological uses in the optical [1], medical [2], catalytic [3, 4], and electronic [5] fields. These particles are currently highly used in quotidian products [6, 7]. Optical, electronic, and catalytic properties of these materials are highly dependent on their size, composition, and shape. Sakai and Alexandridis [8] were pioneers synthesizing gold NPs using commercially available polymers (amphiphilic molecules). Poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers or Pluronics were used as reducing, stabilizing, and morphogenic agents in a single-step synthesis of gold NPs. During this process, micellar cores of Pluronics performed as nanosized reaction vessels for metal colloid formation. This method is friendly with the environment since it uses water as a solvent making it cheap at the same time. In water, Pluronics form micelles above the critical micellar temperature (CMT) and the CMC [9]. Moreover, when increasing the temperature high above the CMT, a phase separation occurs at a temperature known as the cloud point temperature (CPT). At this point, micelles dehydrate, achieving a predominantly hydrophobic environment [10].

In a more recent publication, Sakai et al. [11] reported the synthesis of Ag-NPs in aqueous solutions of Pluronics (F88, F127, and F108) in the absence of any additional agents, with the disadvantage being the need for high synthesis temperatures (above 100°C). They observed that high concentration of Pluronics enhanced the reduction of Ag⁺, leading to the formation of Ag-NPs. Formation of spherical, plate-like and rod-like Ag-NPs was observed using TEM analysis [11]. Furthermore, Ag-NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) employing dopamine as a reducing and sticking agent while Pluronic F127 was used as a stabilizer. Under these conditions, Ag-NPs were uniformly deposited in network-like F127 micelles. The size of individual Ag-NPs was between 5 and 20 nm with spherical shapes [12]. In addition, Pluronic F127 was used as a capping agent in Ag-NP synthesis with an excess of NaBH₄. The copolymer acted as a stabilizer and promoted the agglomeration of individual Ag-NPs while modifying their characteristic plasmon band [13]. On the other hand, different micellar assemblies of block copolymers can act as soft templates since reactions are carried out at the micelle-solution interface on the surface cavities [10]. For instance, small Ag-NPs with a narrow size distribution have been reported when using a triblock copolymer micellar network [14].

Although the synthesis of NPs has been studied extensively and different growth mechanisms have been suggested, real control over this process and in consequence on the properties of the particles still remains a challenge. Therefore, more knowledge needs to be cultivated to understand the relationship between polymer characteristics and particle formation. Since characteristics of Pluronic micellar assemblies can be easily modified by varying the copolymer concentration and temperature, tuning up the shape and size of the overall morphology of NPs and in consequence their optical, electronic, and catalytic properties is possible [15, 16]. These findings raised our interest in the widely used Pluronic P103 since under our understanding its phase diagram has not been exploited in the synthesis of Ag-NPs.

The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of Pluronic P103 concentration as well as synthesis temperature during Ag-NP formation on their kinetics, size, and morphology. The methodology presented here takes full advantage of the micellar structures and structural changes of Pluronic P103, exploring the properties that allow the copolymer to function as stabilizer and/or nanoreactor. Nanoparticle nucleation and growth were monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy while their morphology (size and shape) was investigated by TEM. The scattering intensity and the hydrodynamic diameter as well as size distributions of the particles were measured using DLS. These parameters altogether were used to obtain insights into the relationship between the resulting structure of micelles of Pluronic P103 and the size and shape of formed Ag-NPs as a function of synthesis temperature and copolymer concentration.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Reagents

Silver nitrate (AgNO₃, 99.99%) and sodium borohydride (NaBH₄, 99.8%) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Pluronic P103 ((PEO)₁₇-(PPO)₆₀-(PEO)₁₇) supplied by BASF was used without further purification. All solutions were prepared with triple distilled water.

2.2. Synthesis of Hybrid Silver/P103 Nanoparticles

Aqueous P103 solutions corresponding to concentrations below and above CMC (0.01 wt% and 1 wt%) were prepared. After this first step, the solutions were kept in water baths at different temperatures (25, 30, 35, and 40°C) for another 12 h to ensure Pluronic P103 stabilization. Fresh NaBH₄ (7 mM) and AgNO₃ (1 mM) concentrated solutions were prepared using distilled water.

Reduction of silver ions was achieved when AgNO₃ was added to a solution containing NaBH₄ and Pluronic P103. Final molar proportion was 1 : 4 : 4 for AgNO₃ : P103 : NaBH₄, respectively.

2.3. Characterization

Optical properties of silver colloidal solutions were studied and analysed by UV-Vis spectroscopy using a GENESYS 10S UV-visible spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific) at 25°C and quartz cells with optical path of 1 cm.

Size and shape of Ag-NPs were determined by TEM analyses, using a JEOL-JEM-2010 in conventional transmission mode, operating at 80 kV. For this characterization, samples were prepared by placing a drop of the solution on a carbon-coated Cu grid before air drying them. This analysis was carried out on solutions that exhibited a constant plasmon resonance band.

DLS analysis was performed using a Malvern Zetasizer 4000 instrument. The light source was a 5 mW He-Ne laser, operating at 632.8 nm. Scattering angle was kept at 90°. Measuring time was fixed to 30 seconds with sets of 5 measurements.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. UV-Vis Absorption

Figure 1(a) shows the UV-Vis absorption spectra for Ag-NPs obtained during the reduction of AgNO₃ plus NaBH₄ in the absence of Pluronic P103 at 25°C throughout time. Colloidal solutions without polymer exhibit a fast increase in absorption intensity at early stages of reaction time (1 min), where maximum plasmon resonance absorbance () is ca. 3.4 a.u. Notice a relatively narrow plasmon band centered at the maximum wavelength () of ca. 382 nm, denoting the formation of Ag-NPs [13]. However, when reaction time exceeds 30 minutes, the plasmon band changes with time, i.e., a decrease of (associated with a redshift from 382 nm to 408 nm) and a band broadening occurring simultaneously. It has been reported that an increment of peak area of the band indicates a decrease of interparticle spacing, which evidences particle aggregation [17].

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Figure 1(b) shows UV-Vis absorption spectra of AgNO₃ colloidal solutions prepared with 0.01 wt% P103 at 25°C. At this concentration, monomers of Pluronic P103 are formed [18]. A gradual increase of absorption intensity is observed at the early stages of reaction time (1 to 40 minutes). This behavior suggests a slow growth of Ag-NPs, which is related to a simultaneous increase of NPs in number and/or in size [14]. In addition, a band at of ca. 386 nm with an of ca. 1.7 a.u. shows up. Nevertheless, a decrease in and a redshift in the emission peak at longer time is observed. The redshift of the peak may be associated with an increase in particle size and/or surface alteration due to the polymer [14].

Figure 1(c) shows UV-Vis absorption spectra for a sample prepared with 1 wt% P103 at 25°C. At this concentration, a combination of Pluronic P103 monomers and micelles is formed [18]. Notice how the maximum absorbance ( of ca. 1.3 a.u. with at ca. 390 nm) is reached at very short times exhibiting wide absorption bands. After 50 minutes, the absorption band becomes narrower. Notably, in the long run, the plasmon band develops a second shallow maximum at ca. 630 nm. This behavior suggests that the increase in polymer concentration promotes formation of spherical and anisotropic structures [19, 20].

The corresponding kinetic of Ag-NP growth as a function of Pluronic P103 concentration at 25°C is shown in Figure 2, in terms of (Figure 2(a)) and (Figure 2(b)) over time. The behavior observed in both polymer-free and polymer-containing solutions is very different between them. For the polymer-free colloidal solution, an immediate increase in at ca. 3.4 a.u. occurs (Figure 2(a)) remaining constant for 30 minutes. This suggests that formation of Ag-NPs was immediate due to the reducing agent. It is already known that the magnitude of the intensity depends on the density of NPs dispersed in the solution [21]. Simultaneously, a nearly constant for approximately 10 min is observed (Figure 2(b)), which may be attributed to an increase in the number of Ag-NPs [21]. When reaction time exceeds 50 min, a drastic decrease in is observed followed by a redshift of ca. 25 nm. These changes can be attributed to the significant augmentation of size or self-aggregation of the Ag-NPs [10]. When Pluronic P103 is used below the CMC (0.01 wt%), increases linearly during the first 10 min, whereas, from 10 to 50 minutes, the increment is exponential. This suggests that the nucleation process is carried out in two stages: a slow process and a fast one. During the first-stage, the presence of monomers of the triblock copolymer together with NaBH₄ promotes the continuous formation of Ag-NPs (slow process). However, in the second stage, it is possible that Pluronic P103 monomers start to run out, causing the remaining ions to interact exclusively with NaBH₄ due to the polymer shortage, forming Ag-NPs at a faster rate. After 60 minutes, decreases with a redshift of of ca. 11 nm indicating a further increment of size of the particles. On the other hand, when Pluronic P103 is used above its CMC (1 wt%), is constant during the first 10 minutes of reaction. This suggests that Pluronic P103 micelles affect the synthesis kinetics of NPs. In addition, shows a redshift at longer times from which similar conclusions as with the former concentration can be obtained.

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(b)

To observe the effect of the polymer at intermediate concentrations on the synthesis of Ag-NPs, some experiments were conducted with Pluronic P103 at 0.1 and 0.5 wt%. In the inset of Figure 2(a), it is shown that for solutions of 0.1 and 0.5 wt% of Pluronic P103 behaves in a similar way to the solutions prepared at 0.01 and 1 wt% of Pluronic P103, respectively. It is evident that the increase in polymer concentration, which in turn increases the presence of micelles, modifies the kinetics, particularly at the beginning of the reaction. Similarly, in the inset of Figure 2(b), exhibits a blueshift [17, 22] for both concentrations: 0.01 and 0.1 wt%. Shengtai et al. [23] reported that a blueshift describes a process where recently formed large particles decompose into small ones. Later on, the blueshift turned into a redshift since large particles are no longer decomposing. On the other hand, when increasing the concentration to 0.5 or 1 wt%, only a redshift was observed, even at prolonged times. According to these results, the effect that the concentration of Pluronic P103 has on and , due to formation of different structures of polymer, is clearly seen.

Figure 3 shows a surface plasmon resonance absorption spectra of Ag-NPs synthesized with 1 wt% P103 at different temperatures. In Figure 3(a), at 30°C, is ca. 405 nm and a redshift from 405 to 418 nm is observed. However, when temperature is increased to 35°C (Figure 3(b)), a considerable redshift from 400 to 450 nm was registered. Additionally, another plasmon band at nm is developed suggesting the self-aggregation of large Ag-NP structures [24]. At 40°C (Figure 3(c)), the spectrum shows only one wide absorbance band that exhibits a redshift in function of time from 389 to 423 nm. On the other hand, at 70°C where the CPT is reached and phase separation occurs [18], a slight band that disappears after 20 minutes is observed, indicating that NPs were not formed (Figure 3(d)). According to the Pluronic P103 phase diagram reported by Álvarez-Ramírez et al. [18], a rise in temperature starting at 30°C increases the size of the micelles leading to the formation of polymer-like micelles. These kinds of micellar structures act as soft templates or nanoreactors where formation of NPs takes place [25]. These results indicate that shape and size of Pluronic P103 micelles modify NP structures, as it will be further corroborated by TEM images.

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The corresponding kinetics at temperatures below the CPT (30, 35, and 40°C) are shown in Figures 3(e) and 3(f). behavior is different at 30°C with respect to 35 and 40°C, especially at early stages of the reaction (Figure 3(e)). This could be related to structural changes of Pluronic P103 as well as the way in which the polymer interacts with the ions. At 35 and 40°C, the surface cavities of micelles are available for Ag-NP formation [18]. On the other hand, behavior in Figure 3(f) is different for the three different temperatures. A blueshift was observed only at 35°C. Elsewhere, a similar initial blueshift has been reported, when reaction rates are slow [14]. It may be noted that at 40°C, the dynamics of the NP formation is relatively fast (within 3 to 10 min); thus, the reduction of silver ions is likely to occur within well-formed cavities from the beginning.

Photographs of colloidal solutions after 3 hours of reaction for different concentrations and temperatures are shown in Figure 4. Rows 1 and 2 show photographs of the solutions as a function of Pluronic P103 concentration (0, 0.01, and 1 wt%) at 25°C, and synthesis temperature (30, 35, 40, and 70°C) for 1 wt%. Figures 4(a)–4(c) show that the color of the solutions changed from brown to green passing for pale yellow, indicating the reduction of Ag (1+) to Ag (0). Moreover, notice that color of the Ag-NP solution changed from dark brown at 30°C (Figure 4(d)) to clear brown at 35°C (Figure 4(e)), whereas at 40°C, the color is green (Figure 4(f)). However, when increasing the synthesis temperature to 70°C, a changed in color is not registered (Figure 4(g)), since Ag-NPs were not formed. The color of the solution is indicative of the reduction of silver ions [26].

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3.2. Transmission Electron Microscopy

TEM analysis was used to compare the shape and size of Ag-NPs prepared with and without Pluronic P103 at 25°C. Figures 5(a) and 5(b) show TEM micrographs of Ag-NPs synthesized without Pluronic P103. A vast quantity of small particles with diameters of 2-5 nm is observed. Although, some large size particles (20 to 30 nm) appear as well. Quasispherical and oval-shaped particles are found. Figure 5(c) shows the particle size distribution histogram where mostly small particles with a mean diameter of 3.6 nm were identified, with a standard deviation of 3.7 nm. In this context, in the absence of Pluronic P103, NaBH₄ acts as a reducer agent generating a large amount of small NPs. However, as the reaction proceeds, these NPs self-aggregate as shown by the UV-Vis spectrum (Figure 1(a)) to form larger NPs.

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When a concentration of 0.01 wt% of Pluronic P103 is used for synthesis (Figures 5(d)–5(f)), spherical-shaped particles are predominantly found with a mean diameter of 9 nm and a standard deviation of 4 nm. Below CMT, most of the Pluronic P103 is in a monomer state, promoting the formation of spherical particles with homogeneous size (Figures 5(d) and 5(e)). Figure 5(f) shows the size distribution histogram for a homogeneous population.

TEM studies of Ag-NPs with 1 wt% P103 demonstrate the presence of micelles acting as templates, where independent big Ag-NPs are formed. Micelles act as nanoreactors, enabling the formation of NPs with similar size as the templates. The silver particle core appears as a dark contrast (indicated with a dash circle in Figure 5(g)), while the polymer has a lighter contrast (indicated with arrows in the same figure). Moreover, fused NPs that give place to anisotropic structures with sizes of 20 nm are observed (indicated with arrows in Figure 5(h)). The particle size distribution histogram for these Ag-NPs shows a mean diameter of 12 nm (Figure 5(i)) with a standard deviation of 6.6 nm.

Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show a TEM micrograph of Ag-NPs synthesized with 1 wt% of Pluronic P103 at 30°C. A well-defined oval-shaped micelle with size of ca. 140 nm acting as a soft template is observed since it has small NPs incorporated into its crown. The mean diameter of the Ag-NPs generated into the micelles is 6.2 nm (Figure 6(c)) with a standard deviation of 3.2 nm. Since Ag-NPs are arranged on the surface of micelles, hybrid silver/P103 nanomaterials are formed.

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If temperature is increased to 35°C, there is a transition from spherical to polymer-like micelles [18]. Ag-NPs of different sizes (from 2 to 57 nm) are observed in Figures 6(d) and 6(e). Average size of the nanostructures generated within the micellar template is 5.2 nm (Figure 6(f)) with a standard deviation of 5.8 nm. Raising the temperature to 35°C produced different morphologies, such as spherical, rectangular, and ellipsoidal structures (Figure 6(e)), most probably due to the transition to polymer-like micelles. Accordingly, the asymmetric nature of the band showed in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum in Figure 3(b) can be attributed to the anisotropic nature of the synthesized material.

A TEM micrograph of polymer-like micelle/Ag-NP assemblies prepared with 1 wt% P103 at 40°C is shown in Figure 6(g). Notice that polymer-like micelles carry dark Ag-NPs with sizes of ca. 3.8 nm (Figure 6(h)) on their surfaces with a standard deviation of 1.2 nm. Independent Ag-NPs are not observed, which suggests that tiny Ag-NPs grow on the surface cavities of the micelles, which are acting as templates for self-assembly [27, 28]. It is well known that an increase in temperature of the triblock copolymer solutions promotes hydrophobicity of polymer-like micelles, compacting them along with their surface cavities [10, 18]. Thus, compact cavities (centers of nucleation) accept certain number of atoms of Ag (0) forming tiny Ag-NPs of uniform size. Polymer-like micelles effectively prevent the aggregation of Ag-NPs, acting as a template to immobilize them, improving their dispersibility [12].

3.3. Dynamic Light Scattering

In order to efficiently comprehend the structural changes of Ag-NPs at 25°C, their structure with and without Pluronic P103 was investigated using DLS. Figure 7(a) shows the size distributions of Ag-NPs synthesized without Pluronic P103 at short times. The comparison between intensity, volume, and number as a function of particle diameter is shown. Intensity (continuous black line) analysis shows a trimodal distribution, where a very small population of tiny Ag-NPs (3.1 nm), a considerable population of small Ag-NPs (11.7 nm), and a larger population of big Ag-NPs (76.3 nm) are observed. However, the size distributions regarding volume (dashed blue line) and number (dotted red line) show unimodal distributions with high populations of tiny Ag-NPs with average diameters of 2.7 nm and 2.6 nm, respectively. Therefore, it can be inferred that the amount of small and big Ag-NPs in the colloidal solution without Pluronic P103 is not significant. Other authors have reported a similar behavior [29]. These authors observed multimodal distributions in DLS measurements. They attributed the formation of multiple relaxation times to particle self-diffusion as well as diffusion of aggregates held together via weak interactions. The inset in Figure 7(a) shows the size distribution of Ag-NPs at long times, where particle diameter increases. Size distribution results corroborate the redshift behavior in the UV-Vis spectra (Figure 1(a)). Moreover, the Ag-NP diameters correspond to the size of Ag-NPs observed by TEM micrographs shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b).

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Figure 7(b) shows the size distributions of Ag-NPs synthesized with 0.01 wt% Pluronic P103 at 25°C. The intensity distribution (continuous black line) shows a bimodal distribution at short times. Here, Ag-NP diameters range from 7 to 250 nm with two peaks located at ca. 18 and 120 nm. The first peak is attributed to single NPs and the second peak is assigned to aggregates of Ag-NPs. A similar behavior has been reported in the formation of Pluronic F127-gold hybrid NPs [30]. A considerable population around 10 nm appears in the volume and number distributions. These diameters are similar to the size of Ag-NPs observed by TEM micrographs shown in Figures 5(d) and 5(e).

For Ag-NPs synthesized with 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt% of Pluronic P103 (Figure 7(c)), volume analysis shows an increase in size with P103 concentration. When Ag-NPs are synthesized with 1 wt% Pluronic P103, larger particle diameters are detected which suggests formation of Ag-NP aggregates or the presence of groups of spherical micelles, as observed by TEM analysis (Figure 5(g)). Nanoparticle sizes determined by DLS are larger compared to the ones determined by TEM. DLS measures both metal particle and polymer micelles [31]. Additionally, the size distributions of the Ag-NPs are listed in Table 1.

3.4. Proposed Hybrid Silver/P103 Assembly Formation

According to the kinetics of Ag-NP formation determined by surface plasmon resonance absorption spectra, pathways of nucleation and growth of Ag-NP assembly formation were proposed for each case studied.

In the absence of Pluronic P103 at 25°C, when only NaBH₄ is present, the nucleation process is immediate due to the excess of reducing agent. This process is followed by uncontrolled growth through time (see scheme in Figure 8(a)). When 0.01 wt% P103 is used at 25°C, polymer monomers are present. Under these circumstances, there is a possibility that both components of the Pluronic P103 may be attached to the NP surface through an adsorption mechanism. As long as the PPO component is anchored, PEO chains are forced to stretch in the solution. As a result, the adsorbed Pluronic P103 adopts a brush-like arrangement (see scheme in Figure 8(b)) [13, 32]. The monomeric form is not able to participate in the reduction reaction because it cannot generate surface cavities [21]. Finally, these NPs aggregate with time. On the other hand, the presence of the reducer and a large amount of polymer in the micelle form (1 wt% P103) promote the rapid formation of Ag-NPs (as evidenced by UV-Vis results). At this concentration and 25°C, monomers plus micelles coexist. In this case, the mechanism of particle formation could take place via two possible ways: (1) at short times, ions with monomers form small nanostructures as previously discussed, while micelles could act as nanoreactors, forming NPs with similar size to these templates, and (2) at long times, some NPs fuse giving rise to anisotropic particles [19, 20]. This process is shown in the scheme of Figure 8(c).

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Pluronic P103 micelles undergo several structure transitions with temperature variations at constant concentration (Figure 9(a)). At 30°C where spherical micelles form, they have increased the number of surface cavities that turn into nucleating centers for NP formation. Silver ions interact with surface cavities where they get reduced, initiating the surface redox reaction to produce Ag-NPs. At 35°C, there is an important change from spherical micelles to polymer-like micelles. This transition promotes an increment in the Ag-NP size ( shifts to a higher wavelength). However, at 40°C, the PPO segments of micelles are dehydrated, which lead to formation of cavities with a higher aggregation number and greater surface area; i.e., the reduction process is enhanced (Figure 9(b)). With the increase in temperature, PPO blocks are more exposed to the surrounding environment, favoring its interaction with silver ions and improving the reduction process [19].

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4. Conclusions

In summary, we present a simple single-step synthesis method of Ag-NPs that uses Pluronic P103 as a stabilizer and/or nanoreactor. It was demonstrated that by means of varying Pluronic P103 concentration and temperature, the synthesis of hybrid silver/P103 nanomaterials with different shapes and sizes is possible. At low Pluronic P103 concentration (0.01 wt%) and 25°C, spherical-shaped Ag-NPs were formed, whereas when increasing Pluronic P103 concentration to 1 wt%, NPs with similar size of the micellar templates were observed. As temperature reached 30°C, well-defined oval-shaped micelles were formed and small NPs were incorporated into the crown of micelles. However, increasing temperature to 35°C resulted in an increment in size of Ag-NPs with spherical and ellipsoidal morphologies, due to the self-assembled micellar Pluronic P103 structure transition from spherical to polymer-like micelles. At 40°C, it was possible to obtain Ag-NPs with homogeneous size. Monodisperse NPs obtained by soft templates have demonstrated promising behaviors in the catalysis area. Finally, Ag-NPs coated with a physically adsorbed P103 copolymer can subsequently be removed, exchanged, or functionalized with other functional groups; for this reason, these NPs have the potential to be readily integrated into diverse products. Surface-active polymers like Pluronic P103 are very attractive for their commercial availability as well as their biocompatibility; resulting in methodologies with favorable cost and low environmental impact.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are included within the article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Francisco Ruiz and Jaime Mendoza for their technical support with TEM measurements at CNyN-UNAM. This research was financially supported by Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla-VIEP 2017-2018.

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Copyright © 2019 Nancy Tepale et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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