Ultraviolet-Printing-Assisted Surface-Confined Growth of Silver Nanoparticles on Flexible Polymer Films for Cu²⁺ and H₂S Sensing

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) confined on the surface of flexible polymers films are highly sought after for a diverse range applications. Herein, we report facile substrate-independent strategy surface-confined growth silver NPs (AgNPs) surfaces chemically polymer film substrates represented by polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The were subjected to ultraviolet-printing conjugated hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI). PEI-functionalized AgNPs via three approaches. Besides PEI, ability quaternary amine carboxylic acid functional groups assist is also evaluated. All with exhibited absorbance due plasmon resonance (SPR) characteristic AgNPs. PP functionalized 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, λmax SPR resulting platform was found exhibit markedly higher bathochromic shift when exposed Cu2+ ions. This ions sensor could sense limit detection 2.6 ppm. sensing in absorbance, diminish upon exposure aqueous solution sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH), which acts as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor. intensity decrease >40% 5 μM NaSH solution, whereas signal almost completely disappeared visual decoloration 50 solution. highlights H2S films. In brief, this study step toward future development chemical platforms beyond.