Metal chelate monomers based on nickel(II) cinnamate and chelating N-heterocycles as precursors of nanostructured materials

Metal chelate monomers (MCMs) have been widely used as precursors for the production of advanced functional polymers and nanomaterials. In this articel, new metal chelate monomers based on nickel(II) cinnamate (cinn) and various chelating N-heterocycles, [Ni(cinn)₂(bpy)(C₂H₅OH)] and [Ni(cinn)₂(phen)(C₂H₅OH)₂] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), were first synthesized and characterized. A detailed analysis of the main stages and features of the kinetics of thermolysis of MCMs was carried out. Metal-polymer nanocomposites with a core-shell structure containing metal nanoparticles evenly distributed in a stabilizing nitrogen-containing polymer matrix were obtained by thermolysis at 300 °C. Thermolysis at 450 °C resulted in pure nickel oxide nanoparticles. The nature of the ligand has been shown to affect the structure and size of the product obtained. The tribological characteristics of nanoparticles as additives to lubricating oils were studied using the pin-on-disc tribometer. At the optimum concentration of nanoparticles, the coefficient of friction is the smallest, and an increase in the concentration above the optimum level leads to an increase in the coefficient of friction.