Colloidal Platinum Nanoparticles Stabilized by Vinyl Polymers with Amide Side Chains: Dispersion Stability and Catalytic Activity in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Colloidal platinum nanoparticles were prepared by ethanol reduction of PtCl(6)(2-) in the presence of poly(N-vinylformamide) (PNVF), poly(N-vinylacetamide) (PNVA), or poly(N-vinylisobuty-ramide) (PNVIBA). The effects of molecular weight and molar ratio of monomeric unit/Pt on the particle sizes and size distributions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. The flocculation behavior of the polymer-stabilized colloidal Pt nanoparticles was studied with respect to the effects of temperature, addition of inorganic salts, and composition of the mixed solvents. The dispersion stability of the platinum colloids stabilized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was also examined. The sequence of polymer-stabilized platinum colloids in increasing order of dispersion stability was found to be PNIPAAm-Pt