Synthesis, structural characterization and properties of novel functional poly(ether imide)/titania nanocomposite thin films

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis, morphology, and thermal properties of new poly(ether imide)/titania nanohybrid films were investigated. The novel diamine containing functional nitrile groups was prepared in two steps by the nucleophilic substitution reaction and it was fully characterized by different techniques. Reaction of this diamine with pyromellitic dianhydride and 4-aminobenzoic acid gave poly(ether imide) with carboxylic acid end groups. This acid functionalized poly(ether imide) was condense with different amount of TiO2 nanoparticles to provide organic-inorganic bonding, and the flexible films of these hybrid were prepared. The obtained materials were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. TEM of the nanohybrid films with 12% of TiO2 contents confirms well dispersion of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. TGA data indicated that the thermal behavior of the hybrid materials was increased with an increasing the content of TiO2 nanoparticles. The tensile stress–strain of the hybrids was investigated and the resulting nanocomposites showed good mechanical properties. The permeability and selectivity of the PEI/TiO2 membranes as a function of the titania weight percentage were study and the results indicated that the permeabilities of CO2 and N2 increase with increasing the titania content.