NMR-investigation of the mechanism of silver mercaptide thermolysis in amorphous polystyrene

Polymer-embedded silver clusters have been prepared by thermal decomposition of silver dodecylmercaptide previously dissolved in amorphous polystyrene. The morphology and structure of silver clusters have been determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and large angle X-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively. The mechanism involved in the thermolysis reaction was elucidated by different NMR techniques. The thermolysis produced thiol-derivatized silver clusters (i.e., silver clusters coated with a self-organized thiol monolayer, Agx(SC12H25)y) and had the effect of increasing the branching degree of polystyrene due to enhanced cross-linking.