Transition metallohalopolymers

A metallohalopolymer, which comprises an oxyhalopolymer prepared from a halogenated polymer, said oxyhalopolymer selected from the group consisting of an oxyfluoropolymer and an oxychlorofluoropolymer, said oxyhalopolymer having an outer surface modified wherein from about 1 to about 100 percent of the oxygen or oxygen-containing groups of the outermost surface and to depths ranging from about 10 to about 200 .ANG. have covalently bonded thereto a transition metal or covalently bonded conductive metallic film.

A metallohalopolymer comprising a halogenated polymer with an oxyhalopolymer outer surface and a transition metal covalently bonded directly to a reactive oxygen site on said oxyhalopolymer.

A method of synthesizing metallohalopolymers which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing a halogenated polymer;
• (b) modifying the halogenated polymer of (a) by a method selected from the group consisting of (i) radio frequency glow discharge of hydrogen/methanol gas-vapor under vacuum, (ii) wet chemical reduction and (iii) exposing to actinic radiation in the presence of oxygen containing organic modifiers to substitute at least a portion of the halogen atoms with hydrogen and oxygen or oxygen-containing groups on the outermost surface of said halogenated polymer and to depths of up to about 200 .ANG. to provide an oxyhalopolymer, and
• (c) contacting the oxyhalopolymer of (b) with a solution or gas comprising transition metal complexes for a sufficient time period to facilitate covalently bonding thereto a transition metal or covalently bonded conductive metallic film.