Inorganic-organic hybrid polymers based on surface-modified metal oxide clusters

Transition metal oxide clusters with unsaturated carboxylate ligands bonded to their surface were polymerized in the presence of organic co-monomers by various polymerization techniques to form cluster-reinforced polymers. The properties of the cluster-crosslinked hybrid polymers are distinctly different to those of the parent polymers and originate from both crosslinking and filler effects. Variation of the cluster proportion, the kind of employed cluster, the ratio of functional and non-functional capping ligands and the polymerization conditions allows modifying the materials properties of the hybrid materials. The most important changes in materials properties compared with the cluster-free polymers relate to the swelling behavior, thermal stability and mechanical properties. Furthermore, cluster-specific properties can be introduced into the polymers, such as magnetic properties.