In Situ Preparation, Electrospinning, and Characterization of Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers Containing Silver Nanoparticles Publisher



Sichani GN¹ ; Morshed M¹ ; Amirnasr M² ; Abedi D³ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published:2010

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles were prepared from a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/N, N-dimethylformamide solution of silver nitrate (0.05-0.5 wt %) with light treatment (xenon arc) to reduce Ag+ ions into Ag0. The formation of silver nanoparticles in the PAN solution and the effect of treatment time on the numbers of silver nanoparticles, their average diameter and size distribution were investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy. in addition, the average size of silver nanoparticles and their shapes in colloidal solution were determined by transmission electron microscopy images and found to be on the order of 10 nm. The resulting solution was electrospun into PAN nanofibers. An increase in the salt concentration led to decreases in the nanofiber diameter and bead numbers (determined by scanning electron microscopy images) and an increase in the crystallinity (confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns). A continuous rate of silver release from the nanofiber web was monitored by the atomic absorption technique. These nanofibers showed strong antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.