STUDIES ON THE ULTRA-FINE TRANSITION-METAL PARTICLES DISPERSED IN POLYMER MATRIX

A series of complexes of styrene-4-vinylpyridine copolymers (SVP) or p oly(4-vinylpyridinz) (PVP) and transition metal chlorides were prepare d. The transition metal-polymer complexes were used to prepare the ult ra-fine metallic particles dispersed in polymer matrix by chemical red uction. The effects of the ion concentration and the polymer backbone on the size of these metal particles were studied. It was found that t he transition metal ions may coordinate to pyridine groups in precurso r polymers after blending. Upon reduction, the metal ions were transfo rmed into the corresponding metal particles in the range of nanometer scale. The protective polymers take an important role to prevent metal particles from oxidation and excessive aggregation.