ABSTRACT
ALEXEI R.KHOKHLOV Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
I.METAL NANOPARTICLE FORMATION IN NANOSTRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT
Nanosized metal particles have huge surface areas and possess unique properties that can be employed in a wide range of chemical and physical applications: catalysis, nonlinear optics, semiconductors, microelectronics, and others [1-4]. Properties of metal colloids depend strongly on the particle shapes, size distributions, and chemical environment. The use of a polymeric matrix as a medium for metal nanoparticle formation not only allows one to stabilize the particles and to control the nanoparticle growth but also to impart new properties to the matrix itself. A better control of the nanoparticle growth is achieved in nanostructured matrices such as amphiphilic block copolymers in bulk or block copolymer micelles [5-10]. Most well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers (most efficient in nanoparticle control) are still synthesized by anionic polymerization demanding a high degree of purification at all the steps of synthetic procedure. A very robust alternative way for the preparation of metal nanoparticles in an ordered polymeric environment in aqueous media is discussed in this chapter. Here we consider polyelectrolyte gels forming nanostructures under particular conditions as an external template controlling the nanoparticle growth. The charged groups in the hydrogel are able to attract the metal ions of interest, whereas the internal structure of the gel controls the nanoparticle formation. The metal-nanoparticle-containing hydrogels may serve as nonconventional actuators, sensors, catalysts, or controlled delivery systems.
