Synthesis of poly(dihydroxystyrene-block-styrene) (PDHSt-b-PSt) by the RAFT process and preparation of organic-solvent-dispersive Ag NPs by automatic reduction of metal ions in the presence of PDHSt-b-PSt.

We proposed a block copolymer, poly(dihydroxystyrene-block-styrene) (PDHSt-b-PSt), that contains catechol groups in the side chains of PDHSt moieties. Since catechol groups automatically reduce silver (Ag) ions to their metallic state, the block copolymer was used as a reductant to synthesize organic-solvent-dispersive Ag NPs (NPs) stabilized with the block copolymer at room temperature. Ag NP sizes were controlled by changing molecular weights of PDHSt of the block copolymer.