Metal‐Polymer Nanocomposites for Functional Applications

Abstract

Nanocomposites combine favorable features of the constituents on the nanoscale to obtain new functionalities. The present paper is concerned with the preparation of polymer‐based nanocomposites consisting of metal nanoparticles in a polymer matrix and the resulting functional properties. Emphasis is placed on vapor phase deposition which inter alia allows the incorporation of alloy clusters with well defined composition and tailored filling factor profiles. Examples discussed here include optical composites with tuned particle surface plasmon resonances for plasmonic applications, magnetic high frequency materials with cut‐off frequencies well above 1 GHz, sensors that are based on the dramatic change in the electronic properties near the percolation threshold, and antibacterial coatings which benefit from the large effective surface of nanoparticles and the increased chemical potential which both strongly enhance ion release.

Molecular dynamics simulation of gold cluster growth during sputter deposition

“…Depending on the desired properties of the composite, different deposition methods of both polymer and metal may be advantageous [18,[21][22][23][24]. For example, sputter deposition of metal atoms allows for high deposition rates, but the employed plasma also affects the surface structure (see below).…”

Process Chain for the Fabrication of Nanoparticle Polymer Composites by Laser Ablation Synthesis

“…However, for nanocomposites, the bottleneck within this general process chain is the synthesis and embedment of the nanoparticles. For instance, for most applications, it is necessary to control the exact composition, dispersion, and filling factor of the integrated particles [12,13].…”

“…During wet chemical in situ methods, nanoparticle synthesis is usually carried out either by reduction of the metal salt or by decomposition of a metal complex within a polymer [12]. Another possibility is the use of emulsion techniques to obtain hybrid nanoparticles in situ [14].…”

“…Another possibility is the use of emulsion techniques to obtain hybrid nanoparticles in situ [14]. In contrast, ex situ methods are performed in two steps: the first step of a separate synthesis of the inorganic nanoparticle is followed by a second step where the nanoparticles are subsequently embedded into the polymer [12]. Both of these wet chemical approaches will most likely lead to impurities caused by additives and precursor reaction products [15,16].…”

Síntese de nanocompósitos com propriedades anisotrópicas via polimerização radicalar controlada em emulsão

“…The first works describing ab initio emulsion polymerization under RAFT control 25,26,39,41 were not successful and indicated the high complexity of this system. The association of the RAFT technique with the emulsion process was frequently described as uncontrolled polymerizations that led to the formation of latexes with unsatisfactory colloidal stability.…”