Nanoparticle- and Nanofiber-Based Polymer Nanocomposites: An Overview

Polymer nanocomposites are three-dimensional (3-D) materials generated by the combination of polymer matrix with different reinforcement materials, in which at least one of the filler dimensions is on the nanoscale level. This chapter focuses on the fundamental synthetic methods and effect of the nanofillers such as spherical nanoparticles and nanofibers on the properties of the polymer matrices. It discusses the applications of nanoparticle- and nanofiber-based nanocomposites. These nanoparticles exhibit the size- and surface-area-controllable properties such as optical, magnetic, electrical, and catalytic. These properties lead to the use of nanoparticles in different areas such as optical, biomedical, and sensors. Self-assembly is one of the common techniques used to prepare fibrous nanomaterials via intermolecular noncovalent interactions, such as van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and ionic and coordinative interactions. A variety of nanoparticles have been utilized for the development of polymer nanocomposites, which result in materals with improved electrical, rheological, and tribological properties.