Cryosynthesis and properties of metal-organic nanomaterials

Materials containing metal nanoparticles have been obtained by codeposition of metal and organic compound vapors onto a surface at 77 K. A new method to encapsulate the metal nanoparticles and mesogenic cyanobiphenyls in a po lymer matrix has been developed Go-condensates of metal vapors (Ag, Mg, Cd, Zn, Pb, Sm, Mn, Sn) with the p-xylylene monomers lead to the polymers at l ow temperatures. Globular metal particles of 5-8 nm in size encapsulation p olymer films have been obtained. The particles size was estimated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-vis, IR and NMR spectroscopy were used to control the processes of nanomaterial preparation. Bimetallic Ag/Pb cryoorganodispersions with particle size of about 5 nm have been obta ined. Properties of bimetallic mixed clusters have been computed by ab init io quantum chemistry techniques. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.