Metal salts Nanophase

A major issue is related to the difference in chemical properties of the precursors for the nanophase (usually metal salts) and for the inorganic matrix (commonly alkoxides), as many sol-gel process parameters influence the hydrolytic polycondensation of each precursor differently [3]. 

SAXS data for the 2.5M-SPS ionomers are shown in Fig. 5. A distinct scattering peak was observed in the metal salt ionomers, that corresponded to a characteristic size in real space of 5 nm. That peak is consistent with similar peaks observed by SAXS of high molecular weight ionomers and is due to nanophase separation of ion-rich aggregates. That conclusion is also supported by the fact that the intensity of the peak in Fig. 5 increased proportionally to the electron density of the cation used. The characteristic size in these materials is believed to related to the separation between ionic aggregates. No SAXS peak was observed for PS or the H-SPS. The latter result may indicate that either the hydrogen bonding interactions in that polymer were too weak to drive... 

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