MOLECULAR-LEVEL CERAMIC POLYMER COMPOSITES .1. SYNTHESIS OF POLYMER-TRAPPED OXIDE NANOCLUSTERS OF CHROMIUM AND IRON

Cr(CeH6)2 or Fe3(CO)12 was added to polyamic acid solutions derived from 4, 4′ oxydianiline and either 1, 2, 4, 5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride or 3, 3′, 4, 4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride. Following thermal curing, polyimide films containing a homogeneous dispersion of nanoclusters (size <1–1.5 nm) of Cr2O3 or α-Fe(O)(OH) were obtained. Both scanning electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy depth profile indicated that the usually observed migration of the dopant to the polymer surface had not occurred. The chemical composition of the dopants were established by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.