TiO2 Nanoparticles Functionalized by a Temperature-sensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM): Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract

TiO2 nanoparticles functionalized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM in short, were prepared via seeded emulsion polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in the presence of N,N´-methylene-bis(acrylamide) (MBAA) as the crosslinking monomer. The morphology and structure of the TiO2/PNIPAM hybrid hydrogel were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and FT infrared spectroscopy. The response of the composite to temperature variations was also investigated. The results indicate that the title inorganic/organic hybrid has a sphere-like shape and is composed of inorganic TiO2 nanoparticles and a biocompatible polymer matrix, showing excellent thermosensitivity, as evident from relevant optical photographs at different temperatures. The thermosensitive TiO2 nanoparticles doped in PNIPAM matrix may have potential application in the remediation of wastewater streams.