An Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposite Consisting of Polymuconate and Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract Summary: We have fabricated a nanocomposite consisting of a crystalline polymer and fine metal particles. The intercalation of alkali metal ions into the layered polymer crystals, which were prepared by the solid state polymerization of dodecylammonium muconate, was achieved by heterogeneously stirring the reacting solid polymers in a solution of sodium hydroxide in methanol at room temperature. An ion exchange reaction was similarly carried out in a silver nitrate solution, which was followed by photoreduction, leading to the formation of fine silver particles in the crystalline polymer (the organic matrix). By controlling the amount of silver ions introduced, we have fabricated an organic/inorganic nanocomposite containing silver nanoparticles with well controlled size and distribution, the characteristics of which were measured by transmission electron microphotography, UV‐visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and a small‐angle X‐ray scattering method. magnified image