Polymer-Embedded Metal and Metal Sulfide Clusters

Transition metal alkane-thiolates [i.e., organic salts with formula Me(SR)x, where R is a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon group, -CnH2n+1] undergo a thermolysis reaction at moderately low temperatures (close to 200°C), which produces metal atoms or metal sulfide species and an organic by-product, disulfide (RSSR) or thioether (RSR) molecules, respectively. Alkane-thiolates are nonpolar chemical species that may dissolve in most techno-polymers and the resulting solid solutions can be annealed to generate polymer-embedded metal or metal sulfide clusters. Here, the preparation of silver and gold clusters embedded into amorphous polystyrene by thermolysis of a dodecyl-thiolate precursor is described in detail. However, this chemical approach is quite general and a large variety of polymer-embedded metals or metal sulfides can be similarly prepared.