From triple interpolyelectrolyte-metal complexes to polymer-metal nanocomposites

Adv Colloid Interface Sci. 2010 Jul 12;158(1-2):84-93. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2009.09.002. Epub 2009 Sep 30.

Abstract

Nanocomposite polymer materials containing metal or metal oxide particles attract growing interest due to their specific unique combination of physical and electric behavior. Stoichometric triple interpolyelectrolyte-metal complexes (TIMC) are insoluble in water and in aqueous organic media and may include high content of metal ions; concentration of ions is easy to vary in such polymeric systems. Reduction of metal ions is a common method for obtaining nanoparticles. Interpolyelectrolyte complexes reveal high permeability for polar low-molecular substances and salts. Such swelling behavior is important for the reduction of metal ions included in these solids. The properties of triple interpolyelectrolyte-metal complexes and preparation of nanocomposites from these materials using various methods of metal ion reduction are discussed in this work.