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S. Ivanovici, H. Peterlik, C. Feldgitscher, M. Puchberger, G. Kickelbick:
"Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizations of Complexes Based on Ti and Zr Alkoxides Modified with β-Keto Ester Ligands and Transformation of the Resulting Polymers in Nanocomposites";
Macromolecules, 41 (2008), 1131 - 1139.

Well-defined complexes of Ti and Zr alkoxides and β-keto ester ligands carrying polymerizable double bonds were copolymerized with methyl methacrylate applying atom transfer radical polymerization. The structure and the morphology of the obtained hybrid polymers were investigated using NMR, FT-IR, and size exclusion chromatography. All methods revealed an incorporation of both comonomers in the polymer backbone. NMR and FT-IR analyses demonstrated that after polymerization the chemical linkage between the metal alkoxides and the organic macromolecules was preserved. The alkoxide-containing macromolecules were used as precursors in the formation of metal oxide-containing nanocomposites applying the sol-gel process. The decomposition temperature of the final nanocomposites increased depending on the chemical composition of the materials. Small-angle X-ray scattering investigations revealed a short-range order for the polymers containing Ti-alkoxides which disappeared after carrying out the sol-gel process due to the hydrolysis of the well-defined complexes. Transmission electron microscopy showed the formation of amorphous metal oxide nanoparticles inside the polymer network with diameters of a few nanometers. The particles were highly dispersed due to the low mobility of the alkoxides in the matrix during the sol-gel process.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma0710838