A COLLOIDAL SILICA POLY(N-VINYLCARBAZOLE) NANOCOMPOSITE DISPERSIBLE IN AQUEOUS AND NONAQUEOUS MEDIA

N-vinylcarbazole was polymerized in the presence of FeCl3-impregnated ultrafine silica powder in benzene solution. The precipitation of poly mer followed by benzene extraction of the poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-silic a mass afforded a poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-silica nanocomposite. The com posite exhibited a higher thermal stability and higher de conductivity relative to poly(N-vinylcarbazole) homopolymer. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the particle size of the composite to b e about 26 +/- 5 nm. The nanocomposite could be dispersed in water, di methyl sulfoxide, or propanol in the presence of polyvinylpyrrollidone to yield a stable suspension. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.