4 Metallo-Containing Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes
Polymer–metal hybrids based on polyelectrolyte systems have attracted growing
interest during recent decades [77–79]. Metallo-containing compounds can provide
polymer materials with special optical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical
properties as well as catalytic activity [77–81]. The capability of functional groups
on polyelectrolytes to bind metal ions offers a possibility for their application as
sorbing agents, ion-exchange materials, components of selective membranes
[81–83], or as precursors for preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrids via reduction or precipitation of metal ions [81–85]. Polymer–inorganic nanocomposites are
important candidates for construction of photonic devices, band-pass filters,
components of nonlinear optical systems, optical limiters, elements of microcircuit
chips, etc. [78, 79, 86]. Polyelectrolyte-based materials, including ultrafine particles
of silver and noble metals, exhibit antibacterial properties and are therefore
promising for application in medicine [87–90].
Metal ions coordinated with functional groups of polyelectrolytes may be
used as a motif for assembling supramolecular and colloid systems [80, 91–93].
Polymer colloids and nanocomposites are very important as heavy metal carriers
[80]. The dynamic nature of the coordination bonds between functional groups of
polyelectrolytes and metal ions provides switchability to the system, mimicking
the behavior of natural suprastructures [94]. The application of ionic amphiphilic
block copolymers and terpolymers as templates for nanostructured systems or as
precursors for synthesis of polymer–metal hybrids with different architectures
[95–97] might be advantageous for design of prototypes for advanced catalytic,
medicine-relevant, and electronic systems.
Sequences of interpolymer salt bonds built up by monomer units of oppositely
charged polyelectrolytes form nanosized, structured domains from coupled functional groups. In some cases [8, 40, 41], even a perfect ladder-like arrangement of
interpolymer salt bonds has been demonstrated. Such nanosized structured domains
may act as scaffolds for sandwiching metal ions, which are incorporated (e.g., via
the formation of coordination bonds with functional groups of the polymeric
components) into the macromolecular co-assemblies with high selectivity [81]. The
great variety of structures realized by IPEC-based systems, combined with the
possibility of controlling the interaction of functional groups of the polymeric
components with metal ions, has provoked a great interest in development of such
novel functional materials.
This section describes, first, IPEC-based systems that contain metal ions. Then, a
preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrids comprising metal nanoparticles (NPs)
embedded into IPEC matrices is considered. Finally, advanced structures based on
IPECs containing metal ions and IPEC-based hybrids containing metal NPs are
reviewed.
Advanced Functional Structures Based on Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes
199
Polymer–metal hybrids based on polyelectrolyte systems have attracted growing
interest during recent decades [77–79]. Metallo-containing compounds can provide
polymer materials with special optical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical
properties as well as catalytic activity [77–81]. The capability of functional groups
on polyelectrolytes to bind metal ions offers a possibility for their application as
sorbing agents, ion-exchange materials, components of selective membranes
[81–83], or as precursors for preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrids via reduction or precipitation of metal ions [81–85]. Polymer–inorganic nanocomposites are
important candidates for construction of photonic devices, band-pass filters,
components of nonlinear optical systems, optical limiters, elements of microcircuit
chips, etc. [78, 79, 86]. Polyelectrolyte-based materials, including ultrafine particles
of silver and noble metals, exhibit antibacterial properties and are therefore
promising for application in medicine [87–90].
Metal ions coordinated with functional groups of polyelectrolytes may be
used as a motif for assembling supramolecular and colloid systems [80, 91–93].
Polymer colloids and nanocomposites are very important as heavy metal carriers
[80]. The dynamic nature of the coordination bonds between functional groups of
polyelectrolytes and metal ions provides switchability to the system, mimicking
the behavior of natural suprastructures [94]. The application of ionic amphiphilic
block copolymers and terpolymers as templates for nanostructured systems or as
precursors for synthesis of polymer–metal hybrids with different architectures
[95–97] might be advantageous for design of prototypes for advanced catalytic,
medicine-relevant, and electronic systems.
Sequences of interpolymer salt bonds built up by monomer units of oppositely
charged polyelectrolytes form nanosized, structured domains from coupled functional groups. In some cases [8, 40, 41], even a perfect ladder-like arrangement of
interpolymer salt bonds has been demonstrated. Such nanosized structured domains
may act as scaffolds for sandwiching metal ions, which are incorporated (e.g., via
the formation of coordination bonds with functional groups of the polymeric
components) into the macromolecular co-assemblies with high selectivity [81]. The
great variety of structures realized by IPEC-based systems, combined with the
possibility of controlling the interaction of functional groups of the polymeric
components with metal ions, has provoked a great interest in development of such
novel functional materials.
This section describes, first, IPEC-based systems that contain metal ions. Then, a
preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrids comprising metal nanoparticles (NPs)
embedded into IPEC matrices is considered. Finally, advanced structures based on
IPECs containing metal ions and IPEC-based hybrids containing metal NPs are
reviewed.
Advanced Functional Structures Based on Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes
199