The effect of Ag nanoparticles in Ag/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber composites

Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Ag/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber composites were synthesized via chemical reduction and electrospinning methods, respectively. The filler mass of AgNPs in the Ag/PVA nanofiber composites was varied from 0.025 to 0.125 g. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to determine the structure, crystal size, and lattice parameter of powdered AgNPs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the functional groups of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the fiber diameter, particle size, and nanoparticle size distribution in the Ag/PVA composites. The XRD analysis showed that the AgNPs were ~ 18.9 nm in diameter, consistent with TEM observations. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of Ag–O functional groups in the composites for all mass variations of AgNPs, as indicated by a peak at 490–510 cm−1. The emergence of this functional group confirmed the presence of AgNPs in the composites. SEM and TEM analyses showed that the diameter of the Ag/PVA nanofibers substantially increased from 150.5 (AgNPs mass 0.025 g) to 190.5 nm (AgNPs mass 0.125 g). AgNPs were successfully dispersed in a PVA polymer matrix network appear to have agglomerated at some those network points.