Nanoparticles polymerization methods

Among the two ionic polymerization techniques mentioned above, a living anionic polymerization should show the best possible control of polymer architecture and composition. Mono dispersed homopolymers, complex-block, graft, star, and miktoarm architectures have been accessible primarily by anionic polymerization methods [22]. They have been used to grow polymer brushes from various small particles such as silica gels graphite,carbon black, and flat surfaces [23-26]. Recent results have been reported on living anionic polymerizations on clay [27] and silica nanoparticles [28,29]. 

This bicontinuous-microemulsion polymerization method can also be used to synthesize polymer nanocomposites containing Si02 [101], Ti02, ZnO and many other semiconductors. The advantage of this method is that the nanoparticles of inorganic materials can be dispersed in the polymer matrix fairly uniformly. The only requirement is that nanomaterials should be first stabihzed... 

De, T.K. and Hoffman, A.S. (2001) A reverse microemulsion polymerization method for preparation of bioadhesive polyacrylic acid nanoparticles for mucosal drug deliv. Loading and release of Timolol Maleate. Art. Cells, Blood Subst. Immob. Biotech., 29, 31-46. 

The method of nanoparticles preparation in polymeric matrixes was used. Opportunities of this method for various particles structures were described by us earlier [3-5]. In the case of CeO2 nanoparticles the method consists of the decomposition of Ce(NO3)3, (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6, and cerium (IV) tetraethylamine nitrate ((Et4N)2Ce(NO3)6) in the polyethylene melt in a mineral oil. 

Composites of PANI-NFs, synthesized using a rapid mixing method, with amines have recently been presented as novel materials for phosgene detection [472]. Chemiresistor sensors with nanofibrous PANI films as a sensitive layer, prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline on Si substrates, which were surface-modified by amino-silane self-assembled monolayers, showed sensitivity to very low concentration (0.5 ppm) of ammonia gas [297]. Ultrafast sensor responses to ammonia gas of the dispersed PANI-CSA nanorods [303] and patterned PANI nanobowl monolayers containing Au nanoparticles [473] have recently been demonstrated. The gas response of the PANI-NTs to a series of chemical vapors such as ammonia, hydrazine, and triethylamine was studied [319,323]. The results indicated that the PANI-NTs show superior performance as chemical sensors. Electrospun isolated PANI-CSA nanofiber sensors of various aliphatic alcohol vapors have been proven to be comparable to or faster than those prepared from PANI-NF mats [474]. An electrochemical method for the detection of ultratrace amount of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with synthetic copolypeptide-doped PANI-NFs has recently been reported [475]. PANI-NFs, prepared through the in situ oxidative polymerization method, were used for the detection of aromatic organic compounds [476]. 

A microemulsion polymerization method [62,63] was also reported to produce magnetic polypyrrole nanocomposites filled with 7-Fc203. The nanoparticles were dispersed in the oil phase. FeCla was used as an oxidizing agent. Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (SDBA) and butanol were used as the surfactant and cosurfactant, respectively. FeCl3 (0.97 g) was dissolved in a mixture of 15 mol deionized water, SDBA (6 g), and butanol (1.6 ml). A specific amount of 7-Fc203 suspended nanoparticle solution was added to the above solution for dispersion. Pyrrole was added for nanocomposite polymer fabrication in the microemulsion system. The polymerization was continued for 24 hours and quenched by acetone. 

In in-situ polymerization, nanoscale particles are dispersed in the monomer or monomer solution, and the resulting mixture is polymerized by standard polymerization methods. This method provides the opportunity to graft the polymer onto the particle surface. Many different types of nanocomposites have been processed by in-situ polymerization. Some examples for in-situ polymerization are polypyrrole nanoparticle/amphiphilic elastomer composites magnetite coated multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypyrrole nanocomposites and polypyrrole/ silver nanocomposites. The key to in-situ polymerization is appropriate dispersion of the filler in the monomer. This often requires modification of the particle surface because, although dispersion is easier in a liquid than in a viscous melt, the settling process is also more rapid. 

Cai et at developed PEDOT/PbTe composite by adding PbTe nanoparticles into a polymerization media [20]. The PEDOT nanotubes were in-situ fabricated by an interfacial polymerization method. The PbTe nanoparticles (-20-50 nm) acted as solid stabilizer and were adsorbed on the surface of the PEDOT nanotubes at the acetonitrile/n-hexane interface (Figure 6.10). The materials exhibit extremely large Seebeck coefficient values, which is promising for TE applications. 

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