Synthesis and optical properties of polyurethane foam modified with silver nanoparticles

Abstract This paper for the first time describes peculiarities of synthesis of polyurethane foam modified with silver nanoparticles as a potential material for optical sensors in analytical chemistry. We found that the unique sorptional properties of polyurethane foam gave an opportunity to perform such a synthesis by two different approaches. The first one was based on sorption of previously synthesized in-solution nanoparticles by polyurethane foam, the second one consisted in preparation of nanoparticles directly in polyurethane foam matrix. This possibility is novel and interesting for practical use because the nanoparticles in polyurethane foam are capable of surface plasmon resonance. The influence of different factors during the synthesis was investigated and the optimal conditions were found. The samples prepared were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of the results obtained we first suggested that this material is attractive from the viewpoint of analytical chemistry as a convenient analytical form for determination of oxidants and reductants.