Magnetic nanocomposites from nitrogen base polymers

Polymers containing nitrogen basic groups can be used in the preparation of metal oxide-polymer nanocomposites thanks to the capacity of the N atoms t o coordinate iron ions. In this work, nanocomposites consisting of iron oxi de and poly(4-vinylpyridine) polymer have been prepared. The materials are produced by suspending beads of the polymer in a metal salt solution. Super paramagnetic nanoparticles of metal oxides or hydroxides are grown within t he polymer-metal complex gel by drying in an oven. The reaction of the poly mer with the metal solution takes place by a surface reaction mechanism. Co ntrary to cross-linked polymers, this mechanism of reaction allows the prod uction of materials with different nanoparticle sizes. Copyright (C) 2001 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.