Structure and Catalytic Activity of Poly(Titanium Oxide) Doped by Gold Nanoparticles in Organic Polymeric Matrix

Abstract

The nanocomposite copolymers of poly(titanium oxide) (PTO) in an organic matrix of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) doped by the Au nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in one-pot reaction. The composites were characterized as high optical transparence. It was proved by the SIMS, SAXS, and X-ray diffraction that PTO forms the 6 nm clusters uniformly distributed inside the organic polymer and chemically bonded to it. The AuNPs were formed by the UV irradiation of the copolymers containing the HAuCl4 embedded into the reaction mixture before the synthesis. The primary structure of the PTO clusters is close to the anatase modification of crystalline TiO2. This conclusion is made on the basis of agreement between the experimental FTIR spectra of the synthesized copolymers and the calculated IR spectra of the PTO/HEMA fragments calculated by the DFT quantum chemical methods and also by XPA-analysis. The synthesized materials have high photocatalytic activity. It has been shown by methylene orange decomposition under UV irradiation.