Hybrid polymer/nanocrystalline TiO2 composites prepared via low-temperature in-matrix crystallization of titania

Abstract

AbstractThe novel approach for in situ preparation of polymer/TiO2 composites via low-temperature in-matrix crystallization of sol-gel prepared titania was developed and successfully applied. Rigid aromatic polyimide (PI) and flexible poly(ether-urethane)acrylate (PEUA) were used as polymer matrices and the templates for titania crystallization. Structure and morphology of prepared hybrids have been characterized by WAXD, FTIR and SEM. Chemical interaction between functional groups of the polymers and reactive inorganic component were studied. It was found that the rigid PI is more perspective matrix (instead of flexible PEUA) for carrying out the low-temperature crystallization of TiO2. Developed crystallization technique allowed to decrease the temperature of TiO2 crystallization from 350-500 °C to 250 °C (at atmosphere pressure) and to prepare functional crystalline TiO2-based polymer composites as perspective photoactive materials. Moreover, proposed approach gives also the possibility to obtain the polymer composites with enhanced compatibility between dispersed titania and continuous polymer phases.