New types of hyperbranched 1,2,3-triazole-alkoxysiloxane functional polymers for metal embedded nanocomposite surface coatings.

In this study, using the "click-chemistry" azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, two new types of polymers, namely, water-soluble amine-functional and water-insoluble pyridine-functional hyperbranched 1,2,3-triazoleorganoethoxysiloxane polymers, capable of stabilizing ultra-small silver nanoparticles and efficient for chemical surface modification were synthesized and characterized by H-NMR, C-NMR, Si-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, MALDI and GPC. Coordinatively active hetero-organic polymers with a flexible branched polyethoxysiloxane backbone bearing chelating 1,2,3-triazolyl-dimethylamine and -pyridine conjugated functional groups were exploited towards coordination with Ag+ metal ions, and formation and stabilization of narrowly dispersed silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) obtained in the process of radiation induced metal ion reduction. The influence of the chemically assisted radiation process on the Ag-NP size and size distribution was investigated.