Synthesis Techniques, Properties and Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites

The polymer nanocomposites are composed of different nanometer units and organic polymer materials. In this review article, we have summarized different novel nanometer units which can be divided into inorganic materials and organic materials. For (inorganic materials)-polymer nanocomposites, the nanometer units include inorganic nanoparticle materials and inorganic nano-layered materials. The synthesis techniques, properties and applications of these different polymer nanocomposites are also summarized. Because of the nano-scale effects, large specific surface area, and highly activated atoms of the polymer nanocomposites, most of the polymer nanocomposites have a lot of special properties such as catalytical properties, electrochemical properties, mechanical properties, magnetical properties, optical properties, biological properties etc. This review article outlines the applications of the polymer nanocomposites in different fields. These polymer nanocomposites can be used as electrodes, catalysts, functional textile fibers, electrolytes, drugs, biomedical materials, fabrications membranes, etc. Meanwhile, the preparation methods of the polymer nanocomposites such as sol-gel synthesis, oxidative polymerization synthesis, thermally synthesis, microwave-induced synthesis, interaction synthesis, one-pot synthesis, templatedirected synthesis, melt mixing synthesis, electrochemical synthesis, catalytic chain transfer polymerization synthesis, self-assembly synthesis, photopolymerization synthesis, reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization synthesis, emulsion polymerization synthesis and inter-matrix synthesis are introduced in this review article detailedly and systematically. This review article will provide the scientific researchers real inspiration to develop new synthesis techniques for different polymer nanocomposites.