Inorganic-organic interpenetrating frameworks: oxi-hydroxide iron (III) inside poly-4-vinylpyridine-methacrylic acid-N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide. Part I: Synthesis and macrostructure

A carboxylic gel-type resin, poly-4-vinylpyridine-methacrylic acid-N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide is designed and synthesized in order to be able to incorporate both Fe^III and, potentially, also Au^III in its polymer framework. Along with the gradual substitution of H⁺ with Na⁺, of Na⁺ with Fe³⁺/3 and after a very controlled and gradual precipitation of Fe^III as oxihydroxides induced by the hydrolysis of urea directly inside the nanoporous domains of the metalated resin particles, an organic-inorganic composite is obtained. The material is characterized with TGA, ESEM, XRMA and Mössbauer spectroscopy.