New (Inter)Faces: Polymers and Inorganic Materials

Abstract

A revolution in materials research is occurring at the interface of polymer and inorganic materials chemistry. [1] Two major sub-disciplines of chemistry, that not so long ago seemed self-contained, disconnected, and mature, are now being integrated in novel, imaginative, and important ways. Early explorations at the boundary between the fields are unveiling new classes of polymer±inorganic hybrid materials with structures and compositions unparalleled in materials science. The coalition of synthetic concepts and methods provides an approach to nanocomposite materials in which the interface between polymer and inorganic constituents is under molecular control. This alliance enables the design of hierarchical structures that may exhibit properties and functions unattainable with polymer and inorganic components alone. In this Research News article, some recent materials research occurring at the boundary of polymer/oligomer and inorganic materials chemistry is examined. This is intended to highlight the scientific vitality, excitement and opportunities that abound in this emerging field.There are many aspects of the work that are especially appealing and bode well for a vibrant future of research in this interdisciplinary area. The most attractive feature of the work is that polymer inorganic hybrid materials can exploit the chemical and physical attributes of both components in a new way. Thus, when integrated into a designer architecture with command of the interface between constituents at the molecular scale, the composite can display unique behavior not available to the polymer and inorganic parts alone. Another aspect that is particularly unusual concerns the amalgamation of structures and length scales typically associated with polymers and inorganics to create functional hybrid materials with hierarchical architectures that are unprecedented in materials science. Furthermore, the intentional combination of polymeric and inorganic building units in a self-assembly synthesis provides control over interfaces at the molecular scale. This new approach to synthesizing polymer±inorganic composite materials from the ªbottom-upº rather than fabricating them in the traditional way from the ªtop-downº, offers new ways to introduce function and form into materials for possible use in dental and bone implants, corrosion protection and battery electrolytes, dielectrics and food packaging, and vehicles for controlled chemical release. [2] Concepts and ExamplesSome examples that illustrate the benefits of integrating polymer/oligomer and solid-state materials chemistry are briefly mentioned in the following paragraphs. To begin, the impressive morphologies of microphase separated diblock and triblock copolymers have been utilized as templates to direct the hydrolytic polycondensation of metal alkoxides into mesoporous metal oxide, composite materials. [3,4] These hybrid materials have structures that can be considered as ªcastsº of the templating mesophase. The polymer template can be removed from the composite to produc...

Organic‐Inorganic Hybrids from Renewable Plant Oils and Clay

“…[18,19] These materials have often been shown to improve the physical, mechanical and thermal properties, and the inorganic phase can be well distributed in the polymer matrix. A variety of approaches to hybrid materials have been developed, in which the interface between polymers and inorganic constituents is under molecular-level control.…”

Initiator‐Grafted Silica Particles for Controlled Free Radical Polymerization: Influence of the Initiator Structure on the Grafting Density

“…[5][6][7][8] Developments in the elaboration of inorganic/organic hybrid particles have enabled the synthesis of novel polymer brushes possessing a wide range of tethered organic polymers onto a spherical surface. [9][10][11][12] These polymer brushes can be synthesized in a number of ways, i) the ''grafting to'' approach, limited by the crowding of chains at the surface which hinders the diffusion of chains end to the surface for further attachment, [5] and ii) the ''grafting from'' technique which gives the most significant value for the grafting density. [13] In the second case, a performed functionalized azoic initiator was synthesized and covalently attached to a variety of solid surfaces.…”

Organometallic Polymers of the Transition Metals

“…[183] The poly(ferrocenylsilanes) are the most well-studied of the polymers prepared from ferrocenophanes. [13,[183][184][185] Polymerization of [1]silaferrocenophanes has been accomplished thermally and by using anionic or transition metal-catalyzed ROP reactions. The mechanism of thermal ROP and the nature of the active catalyst in transition metal-catalyzed reactions has been examined.…”

“…[1][2][3] The incorporation of transition metals into organic monomers and polymers has been thoroughly examined over the past five decades in light of the promising electrical, magnetic, optical and catalytic properties that these organometallic materials possess. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] These organometallic polymers have found applications in the coating, colorant, pharmaceutical and aerospace industries.…”

“…There are numerous books and review articles that have classified organometallic polymers according to their synthetic methodologies, structural features and properties. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][24][25][26] In this article, organometallic polymers will be reviewed according to the nature of the bonding between the metal and the organic moieties. Further divisions have been made within these areas according to their synthetic methodologies.…”