Influences of co‐monomers and electrolyte acidity on morphological structure of copper‐in‐copolymer gradient film

Abstract

ABSTRACT:In this paper, the influences of composition of copolymers and acidity of electrolyte in an electrochemical reactor on morphological structure of copper-in-polymer gradient composite film were investigated. For binary copolymers, poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) [P(AN-co-MA)] and poly(acrylonitrile-co-sodium allyl sulfonate) [P(AN-co-SAS)], the charged group -SO 3 Ϫ in P(AN-co-SAS) improves the swelling of the copolymer phase and copper reduction to form gradient morphology; the carboxylic ester group in P(AN-co-MA) is not effective because of its poor hydrophilicity, but it is a cooperating component with P(AN-co-SAS) to avoid excess of counterion (i.e., Na ϩ ) in SCF, which might severely interrupt Cu 2ϩ coexistence. The swelling of the polymer phase is helpful to decrease the energy of the transfer ions in SCF and to enhance copper deposition and gradient formation. The increase of surface energy because of cluster growth raises the surface energy level of deposited Cu 0 clusters. The conteraction between these two energy factors allows the size of clusters to be 50 -100 nm. The appropriate H ϩ concentration improves active Cu 2ϩ reduction and thus deposited gradient copper phase in the copolymer matrix

Relationship between the morphological structure and mechanical properties of copper‐in‐hydrophilic polymer gradient composite films

“…All samples of copper‐in‐polymer gradient composite films (CPGCFs) were prepared by the electrochemical method; this was similar to our previous articles7–11 with slight changes. This method consisted of three basic steps.…”

“…Effective ion motion and reduction to form MPGCF occur in SCF, which is special delivery place with high viscosity, complicated interactions between macromolecular chains and copper ions, solubility of copper(II) ions, and so on. Although we have discussed most of these factors in previous articles,11 the hydrophilicity of polymers as matrices was beyond those investigations. Actually, it is a core fact for determining the dissolvability of copper(II) ions in SCF.…”

Microporous network‐assisted formation of copper‐in‐polymer gradient composite film

“…Based on the previous investigations,1 the morphological structure in cross‐section of CPGCF depends largely on SCF structure and electrochemical conditions, including coating thickness, predrying time, and electrochemical reduction voltage. However, the porous structure in SCF will be the important factor to cause the difference from our previous publications 10, 11, 24, 25…”

“…The coagulated nanolatex film was reduced by SRS, which was established in our previous experiments 1. The electrolytic system was composed of a copper anode, a graphite cathode that was coated with SCF, and liquid medium between the couple electrodes.…”

“…The gradient composite materials, as described,1 show their unique characteristics in properties via gradient concentration distribution of a component in matrix materials. Previously, metal‐in‐ceramic or metal‐in‐metal gradient materials were reported2–5 for avoiding from thermal or bending stress breakage in layer structural composites deriving from single component materials.…”