Polymer-embedded metal nanostructures

For the comprehension of mechanisms involved in the appearance of novel properties in polymer-embedded metal nanostructures, their characterization represents the fundamental starting point. The microstructural characterization of nanofillers and nanocomposite materials is performed mainly by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), large-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical spectroscopy (UV-vis). These three techniques are very effective to determine particle morphology, crystal structure, composition, and grain size (48). 

Figure 3. Various type of SERS active metallic nanostructures (a) metal-island films (b) metal-coated nanospheres (semi-nanoshells) (c) metal-coated random nanostructures and (d) polymer coatings embedded with metal nanoparticles. Inset An SEM image of silver-coated polystyrene spheres.

Inorganic nanoparticles such as metal/semiconductors (M/SC) immobilized in polymer matrices have attracted considerable interest in recent years due to their distinct individualistic and cooperative properties [84]. Although the control of size and shape of M/SC nanoparticles has been widely investigated, the fundamental mechanism of nanostructural formation and evolution is still poorly understood. A novel cryochemical solid-state synthesis technique has been developed to produce M/SC nanocomposites [85]. This method is based on the low-temperature cocondensation of M/SC and monomer vapors, followed by the low-temperature solid-state polymerization of the cocondensates. As a result of the method of stabilizing the metal particle without requiring any specific coordination bonds between the particle surface and the polymer matrix, generated nanoparticles (Ag-nanocrystal mean size 50 A) were embedded in the polymer matrix with well-controlled shapes and a narrow size distribution [86]. 

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