Ion-free nano-metal-polymer composites

摘要

Ion-free, nano-metal/polymer composites (I) containing (A)a polymer with a decomposition pt. above 150 deg C which is soluble in organic solvents with a b.pt. below 250 deg C or in water or mixtures thereof, and (B) a metal of periodic Groups 2-14. Also claimed is a process for the production of (I), by dissolving a thermolabile metal precursor compound with a decomposition pt. of 0-150 deg C (B') in solvent and/or water as above, mixing the solution with a solution of polymer (A) in solvent and/or water as above, removing the solvent(s), optionally under vacuum, and converting (B') into metal particles (B) by thermolysis. The nano-particles (B) may be homogeneously dispersed in the matrix with a narrow particle size distribution, or inhomogeneously dispersed with varying sizes. The metal content of (I) is 2-18 wt%. Matrix (A) comprises polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl- pyrrolidone and/or a mixture thereof, and preferred metals (B) are those in periodic Groups 8, 9, 10 and 11, especially iron, nickel, cobalt, gold, palladium and platinum. Suitable solvents for (A) are toluene, THF, methyl-THF, methylene chloride, chloroform, methanol, 2-methyl- pyrrolidone or mixtures of these.