Monodisperse raspberry-like multihollow polymer/Ag nanocomposite microspheres for rapid catalytic degradation of methylene blue

Raspberry-like multihollow polymer microspheres were prepared by seeded swelling polymerization and decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) which acted as both reducing and stabilizing agent. Formation mechanism of the raspberry-like multihollow microsphere was discussed on the basis of water absorption of sulfonated groups in the seeded swelling polymerization. Effects of weight ratio of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate to styrene (NaSS/St) of the seed particles, the concentration of PVP and [Ag(NH3)2]+ ions on the properties of polymer/Ag nanocomposite microspheres were investigated by microscopic observation, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, UV–vis absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns and thermogravimetric analysis. The results demonstrated that the raspberry-like multihollow microspheres were successfully fabricated by controlling over the NaSS/St of the seed particles in the seeded swelling polymerization by which the fabrication of hollow structure became simple and convenient. The spherical AgNPs were loaded on the polymer microsphere by in-situ chemical reduction due to the stabilization and reduction of PVP and the attraction between sulfonated groups and [Ag(NH3)2]+ ions. The raspberry-like multihollow polymer/Ag microspheres showed good catalytic activity and reusability in the degradation of methylene blue in the presence of NaBH4.