Structurally modified poly(methyl methacrylate) electrospun nanofibers as better host matrix for noble metal nanoparticles

AbstractPoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers are proved as good host matrix for various nanomaterials. Here, the possibilities offered by the process of electrospinning are exploited for the production of pure and structurally modified surface roughened and coaxial hollow PMMA electrospun nanofibers with unique advantages and surface characteristics, which is proved through various structural analyses. The host matrix nature of these pure and structurally modified surface roughened and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibers to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are proved through different structural and morphological analyses. The host matrix nature of pure and structurally modified surface roughened and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibers to AuNPs are compared with that of pure PMMA nanofibers by comparing their structural and optical properties. It is found here that, the surface roughened PMMA nanofibers act as better host matrix with more uniform distribution of particles and intensity enhancement than the pure and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibers. Pure and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibers show almost two times enhancement in intensity while the surface roughened PMMA nanofibers show almost five times enhancement in intensity after incorporating AuNPs. The host matrix nature of PMMA nanofibers is thus proved to be improved by making structural modifications on PMMA nanofibers in a simple and cost‐effective way. This makes them more suitable and adaptable in their applications. This superior property of surface roughened PMMA nanofibers over pure PMMA nanofibers can be used in all the application fields of PMMA nanofibers like optical works, catalytically supporting agents, antibacterial supporting systems and so on.