Cyclic voltammetry study of electrochemically synthesized Ag/PVP nanocomposite

Abstract

Hydrogel nanocomposites of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and crosslinked poly(N-vinyl-2- pyrrolidone) (PVP) were synthesized in situ by a novel electrochemical method. PVP hydrogels, crosslinked by gamma-irradiation, were swollen in the solution containing 0.1 M KNO3 and 3.9 mM AgNO3. PVP polymer matrix nanocavities were used as nanoreactors for AgNPs synthesis. The reduction of silver cations was performed using two-Pt-electrode electrochemical cell. The polarity of the electrodes was changed on the half of the implementation time, enabling the Ag+ ions reduction in the bulk. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was performed in a three-electrode electrochemical cell, using the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) as a reference. Ag/PVP nanocomposites were scanned by CV immediately after the synthesis and after drying followed by reswelling in 0.1 M KNO3. Ag/PVP was compared with CVs of the following systems: Pt electrode in 0.1 M KNO3; Pt/PVP system in 0.1 M KNO3; Ag/Pt system in 0.1 M KNO3 + 3.9 mM AgNO3 solution.