Fabrication methods to produce nanocomposites with smart polymeric hydrogel matrix

S. BONGIOVANNI ABEL; M.A. MOLINA; C. R. RIVAROLA; M. V. MARTINEZ; M. C. MIRAS; R. E. RIVERO; C. A. BARBERO

Buenos Aires

Congreso; COMAT 2015; 2015

The formation of nanocomposites with smart polymeric hydrogel matrix could add new properties due to the combination of the properties of the included material and the matrix. Unlike macroscopic composites, the fabrication of nanocomposites be up- down but bottom-up methods are required. Moreover, since the matrix is crosslinked could not be mechanically mixed with the included material. On the other hand, the matrix is porous, allowing absorption of the nanomaterials inside the matrix. We describe different methods to fabricate nanocomposites based of a smart polymer matrix: poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Among the included materials are conducting polymer and metal (Ag, Au) nanoparticles and graphene. The fabrication methods involve in-situ formation of nanoparticles inside the gels, polymerization of the matrix around the nanoparticles dispersion and absorption of nanoparticles inside a porous matrix. The effects of included material on the properties of the nanocomposites are discussed.