Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/nickel nanocomposites from semicrystalline block copolymer precursors

Nanoscale. 2013 Jan 7;5(1):184-92. doi: 10.1039/c2nr32990e. Epub 2012 Nov 9.

Abstract

The fabrication of nanoporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and PVDF/nickel nanocomposites from semicrystalline block copolymer precursors is reported. Polystyrene-block-poly(vinylidene fluoride)-block-polystyrene (PS-b-PVDF-b-PS) is prepared through functional benzoyl peroxide initiated polymerization of VDF, followed by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. The crystallization of PVDF plays a dominant role in the formation of the block copolymer structure, resulting in a spherulitic superstructure with an internal crystalline-amorphous lamellar nanostructure. The block copolymer promotes the formation of the ferroelectric β-polymorph of PVDF. Selective etching of the amorphous regions with nitric acid leads to nanoporous PVDF, which functions as a template for the generation of PVDF/Ni nanocomposites. The lamellar nanostructure and the β-crystalline phase are conserved during the etching procedure and electroless nickel deposition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Polystyrenes
  • Polyvinyls
  • polyvinylidene fluoride
  • Nickel