Metal-polymer interactions in a polymer/metal nanocomposite

A poly(t-butyl acrylate)/gold nanocomposite sandwich was annealed to induce diffusion of the gold particles, which was monitored using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Marker motion experiments were also performed to probe particle and polymer mobilities independently. The experiments revealed that particle mobility was decreased by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude compared with the predictions by Stokes-Einstein theory, Diffusion of polymer molecules through a gold particle layer is decreased by a much smaller extent. These results are attributed to bridging between particles arising, from slow exchange kinetics of polymer se,aments at the polymer/metal interface.