Polymer composite having dispersed transition metal oxide particles

A method of forming polymer composites, comprising:

• (a) mixing a transition metal oxide precursor including at least one transition metal, a polymer as a binder, a solvent for said polymer, and water to form a first solution including polymer-transition metal complexes;
• (b) hydrolyzing said polymer-transition metal complexes to produce a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, wherein said water is added in said mixing in a stoichiometric excess for said hydrolyzing, and
• (c) removing said solvent and residual of said water remaining after said hydrolyzing,
• (i) wherein a polymer composite including said plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in said polymer results after said removing, and
• (ii) wherein some of said polymer is chemically conjugated to a surface of said transition metal oxide nanoparticles;
• and one or more of the following:
• (iii) combining said transition metal oxide precursor with a chelating agent before said mixing, and wherein said mixing comprises adding said transition metal oxide precursor combined with said chelating agent to a solution of said polymer, said solvent, and said water to form said first solution;
• (iv) adding a surfactant to said first solution, wherein said first solution after said mixing provides a single phase inverse microemulsion;
• or
• (v) wherein when said polymer composite is in liquid phase at room temperature, adding an oxidizer and fuel particles to said polymer composite, and curing said polymer to form a composite solid propellant.