Hybrid materials based on polymethylsilsesquioxanes containing Fe, Pt, and Fe–Pt metallic nanoparticles

Abstract

New hybrid materials based on Pt, Fe, and Pt–Fe nanoparticles stabilized in a matrix of polymethylsilsesquioxane nanogel and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were prepared. Metal vapor synthesis was used to produce mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles. It was shown that organosilicon nanogel effectively stabilizes Pt nanoparticles with an average size of 0.9 nm. Using the nanogel results in the formation of superparamagnetic Fe particles 3–5 nm in size that consist of ferromagnetic Fe⁰ core and antiferromagnetic shells of Fe oxides. It is established that using an organosilicon matrix in the formation of Pt-Fe/UHMWPE systems helps reduce the average particle size of Fe in the material from 6.5 to 4.5 nm and narrow their particle size distribution. The composition, magnetic and electronic characteristics of the nanocomposites are studied via transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, XANES, and EXAFS.