Hybrid polymer-inorganic nanocomposites

The approaches to the production of organic-inorganic nanocomposites are co nsidered from a unified viewpoint for the first time. The main problems ass ociated with this new line of research in materials science, which has aris en at the border of polymer science, colloidal chemistry, and physical chem istry of the ultradispersed state, are discussed. The most important method s for the formation of composite materials and cross-linked polymer-inorgan ic hybrids with interpenetrating networks are analysed. Primary attention i s paid to the sol-gel preparation technique including template processes, w hich occur with strict stereochemical orientation of reactants, intercalati on of polymers or monomers into porous and layered matrices, and intracryst al and post-intercalation transformations. Methods for the synthesis and pr operties of metallopolymer Langmuir-Blodgett films, which are peculiar supr amolecular ensembles incorporating nanosized metal-containing particles, ar e discussed. The common nature of the processes of formation of organo-inor ganic nanocomposites in living and non-living natural objects is demonstrat ed and the principal applications of nanocomposites are discussed.