Solvent-free synthesis of silver-nanoparticles and their use as additive in poly (dicyclopentadiene)

A solvent-free environmentally benign synthesis of oleylamine capped silver nanoparticles is presented. upon heating 10 equivalents of oleylamine and silver nitrate at 165°c for 30 min followed by a precipitation step using ethanol as the precipitant particles characterized by an zaverage diameter of 63 nm were obtained. dried particles can be easily redispersed in unpolar solvents or monomers,which pave the way for using them as an antimicrobial additive in polymeric materials. in particular,newly prepared ag-particles were dispersed in dicyclopentadiene and the mixture was cured using ring opening metathesis polymerization yielding an antimicrobially equipped duroplastic material.