Preparation and characterization of polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) coordinated to metal or metal ion nanoparticles

• Co, Cr or Au3+ functional polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) was prepared.
• Changes in thermal decomposition mechanism and product distribution were recorded.
• Degradation was started by loss of pyridine units coordinated to Cr, Co or Au3+.
• The thermal stability increases with the increase in strength of the coordination.

In this study, Co, Cr or Au3+ functional polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine), PS-b-P2VP complexes were prepared and characterized. Coordination of metal atom or ion to nitrogen atom of pyridine rings was confirmed by FTIR analyses. The strength and efficiency of coordination of P2VP blocks to Co, Cr or Au3+ mainly depends on charge and stability of the complex formed that is mainly related to the energy of d orbitals. The results reveal that the thermal stability of the polymer composite formed increases with the increase in strength of the coordination. Changes in thermal decomposition mechanism and product distribution were recorded. Degradation of P2VP units coordinated to Cr, Co or Au3+ was started by loss of pyridine units leaving an unsaturated and/or crosslinked polymer backbone that degraded at relatively high temperatures.