Abstract
Nanocomposites containing palladium nanoparticles were synthesized by in situ generation route from palladium acetate and a polyether block amide matrix with the aim to obtain materials with specific nanoparticle location and function properties. The chosen Pebax matrix was composed of a continuous soft phase containing dispersed semi-crystalline rigid domains. Nanocomposite films with Pd amount up to 30 wt% (corresponding to 3.5 vol%) were directly prepared from the palladium precursor and the copolymer matrix through a solvent cast process. The microstructure of the films was investigated by microcalorimetry, X-ray diffraction analyses and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites’ function properties in terms of electrical conductivity and interaction towards hydrogen were studied as a function of the palladium content. It was shown that the spherical crystalline Pd nanoparticles that were in situ formed were located in the continuous soft phase of the copolymer matrix. They did not induce modification of Pebax microstructure and chain mobility. The specific location of the metal nanoparticles within the copolymer matrix associated with their low size allowed obtaining conductive materials for Pd amount equal to 3.5 vol%. Moreover, the affinity towards hydrogen evidenced from hydrogen permeation experiments made this nanocomposite series promising for further development in sensing applications.
Highlights
Organic–inorganic composites have attracted great attention because of their potential to combine the features of organic materials with those of inorganic materials
The nanoparticles were excluded from the semi-crystalline rigid domains, and their location within the continuous copolymer soft phase permitted obtaining nanocomposites with an electrical conductivity value reaching 5.1 × 10−6 S/cm for 30 wt% Pd content corresponding to 3.5 vol% nanofillers
Polymer/metal nanocomposites films were successfully prepared from palladium acetate and Pebax copolymer by using in situ generation route
Summary
Organic–inorganic composites have attracted great attention because of their potential to combine the features of organic materials with those of inorganic materials. Polymer–metal nanocomposites are promising functional materials in domains such as optical, electrical, magnetic, catalytic and gas transport applications [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Such nanocomposites can be prepared either by the ex situ method or by the in situ generation route. Modification of the filler and/or the polymer matrix must often be carried out to promote filler/matrix interactions [13,14] Despite these approaches, the dispersion of individual nanofillers is often difficult to achieve [14,15]. Another obstacle to the development of such nanocomposites preparation route is the increasing concerns about nanoparticle manipulation [16]
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