Natural Dissociation Ratio of Carboxyl Group Controlled Highly Dispersed Silver Nanoparticles on PSA Microspheres and Their Catalytic Performance

The highly dispersed silver nanoparticle-loaded poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) nanocomposites (nAg@PSA) were prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The amount and distribution of colloidal silver per particle were related to the dissociation ratio of carboxyl groups in the PSA sphere. The amount of carboxyl groups was evaluated by a conductivity titration curve. However, the dissociation of carboxyl groups on PSA is difficult to determine accurately via existing methods because the dissociation ratio will increase with increasing impurity ions during titration. We developed a technique to determine the dissociation ratio of PSA without impurity ions. This employs a novel distance-variable parallel electrode system. Thus, the relationship between nano silver distribution and natural dissociation of carboxyl groups on the surface of the PSA spheres was investigated for the first time. Accurately measuring and controlling the dissociation facilitated the production of PSA spheres containing highly dispersed silver nanoparticles. The catalytic performance of as-prepared nAg@PSA catalysts was studied by reduction of 4-nitrophenol. By controlling the amount of natural dissociation ratio of carboxyl group on PSA sphere, dispersion of silver nanoparticles can be designed and attained controllably. They offer easy synthesis, high catalytic performance, and good recyclability.