Nanocomposites based on interpolyelectrolyte complex and Cu/Cu2O core–shell nanoparticles: Structure, thermomechanical and electric properties.

The morphology, structural, thermomechanical and electric properties of nanocomposites prepared from interpolyelectrolyte–metal complex being formed involving anionic polyelectrolyte – pectin, CuSO 4 and cationic polyelectrolyte – polyethyleneimine have been investigated using the methods of wide-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electronic microscopy, thermomechanical analysis and dielectric spectroscopy. Such type of nanocomposites with Cu/Cu 2 O core–shell nanoparticles incorporated into polymer matrix is obtained due to the chemical reduction of Cu 2+ cations by NaBH 4 in the interpolyelectrolyte complex, and appearance of the copper’s metallic phase is observed in full extent while BH 4 − :Cu 2+ molar ratio is equal to 6.0. Applying thermomechanical analysis and dielectric spectroscopy, it was observed that transformation of interpolyelectrolyte–metal complexes into nanocomposites results in decreasing of their glass-transition temperature and increasing of the electric conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]