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Pure Appl. Chem., 2008, Vol. 80, No. 11, pp. 2425-2437

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200880112425

Novel strategies for preparation and characterization of functional polymer-metal nanocomposites for electrochemical applications

Dmitri N. Muraviev1, Patricia Ruiz1, Maria Muñoz1 and Jorge Macanás2

1 Department of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
2 Université de Toulouse, INP, UPS, CNRS, Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, F31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France

Abstract: Stabilization of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) in polymeric matrices of different types has proven to be one of the most promising strategies to prevent their aggregation and to retain their properties. Polymer-stabilized MNPs (PSMNPs) and those based on polymer-metal nanocomposite materials are starting to find wide application in various fields of science and technology. In this paper, we demonstrate that metal-polymer nanocomposite membranes (MPNCMs) containing MNPs can easily be prepared in an ion-exchange such as, for example, sulfonated polyetherether ketone (SPEEK) matrix by using the polymeric membranes as nanoreactors for synthesis and to characterize the composition and structure of the formed MNPs. Metal ions (or metal ion complexes) are first incorporated into the polymeric matrix where they undergo reduction, leading to formation of corresponding MPNCMs. Since this technique allows successive metal loading-reduction cycles to be carried out, it enables synthesis of both monometallic and bimetallic (e.g., core-shell) MNPs. The proposed approach is illustrated by synthesis and characterization of MPNCMs containing both monometallic and bimetallic core-shell MNPs, formed by combinations of Pd, Pt, Co, Ni, and Cu, along with their application in electrochemical sensor and biosensor constructions.