Encapsulation of TiO2 nanoparticles with poly(4-vinylpyridine) using surface functionalized thiol-lactam initiated radical polymerization

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2013 May;13(5):3546-9. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2013.7278.

Abstract

A nanocomposite of TiO2 nanoparticle with an electroactive poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) was synthesized via a simple surface thiol-lactam initiated radical polymerization upon grafting from protocol. This can be achieved through the primary modification of the TiO2 surface with a silane coupling agent leading to thiol functionalized TiO2 (TiO2-SH). Subsequently, a controlled radical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine in the presence of TiO2-SH and butyrolactam afforded PVP-g-TiO2 nanocomposites. The grafting of PVP on the surface of TiO2 was confirmed by FT-IR, TGA, XPS, EDX, TEM and SEM analyses. The UV-vis studies of the synthesized PVP-g-TiO2 nanocomposite demonstrated an exceptionally good dispersibility in organic solvents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Free Radicals
  • Lactams / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry*
  • Nanocapsules / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Free Radicals
  • Lactams
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Nanocapsules
  • Polymers
  • Polyvinyls
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • titanium dioxide
  • poly(4-vinylpyridine)
  • Titanium