Magnetic nanocomposites from nitrogen base polymers

Polymers containing nitrogen basic groups can be used in the preparation of metal oxide–polymer nanocomposites thanks to the capacity of the N atoms to coordinate iron ions. In this work, nanocomposites consisting of iron oxide and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) polymer have been prepared. The materials are produced by suspending beads of the polymer in a metal salt solution. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles of metal oxides or hydroxides are grown within the polymer–metal complex gel by drying in an oven. The reaction of the polymer with the metal solution takes place by a surface reaction mechanism. Contrary to cross‐linked polymers, this mechanism of reaction allows the production of materials with different nanoparticle sizes.