Metallized Phosphane-Ene Polymer Networks as Precursors for Ceramics with Excellent Shape Retention.

Our research group has reported the synthesis of phosphane-ene photopolymer networks, where the networks are composed of cross-linked tertiary alkyl phosphines. Taking advantage of the rich coordination chemistry of alkyl phosphines and the material's susceptibility to solution chemistry, we were able to generate Co, Al, and Ge macromolecular adducts. The metallized polymer networks can be pyrolyzed to make metal-doped carbon, commodity materials in the areas of battery, and fuel cell research. The polymer precursors can also be shaped by spin coating and lithography, before being metallized and pyrolyzed to give patterned ceramics, which display excellent shape retention of the original patterns.