Electrochemical Synthesis of Polyacrylamide Hydrogels - Metalnanoparticles Composites

Polymer hydrogels are cross linked hydrophilic polymers which are insoluble but absorb, swell and retain large amount of water. They exhibit both liquid and solid like properties. The properties of hydrogels are greatly enhanced by mixing them with metal nanoparticles. Such materials have great promise for technology. We carried out the formation of polyacrylamide hydrogels-metal nanoparticles composites by electrochemical method. The simultaneous reduction of the solution of acrylamide in water and metal ions occurred and subsequently polymer-metal nanoparticles composites were formed insitu at the cathode. Silver, Zinc, Nickel, Iron, Copper and Platinum metals were used as electrodes, anode and cathode being of the same metals. Yields of materials are dependent on the nature of electrode metals. A reaction mechanism is also proposed.