Synthesis and characterization of (hydroxypropyl)cellulose/TiO 2 nanocomposite films

• Published in: Polymers for advanced technologies Vol. 19; no. 7; pp. 807 - 811
• Main Authors: Halamus, Tomasz, Wojciechowski, Piotr, Bobowska, Izabela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2008
• ISSN: 1042-7147; 1099-1581
• DOI: 10.1002/pat.1038

Abstract A new method of synthesis of TiO 2 nanoparticles as well as preparation of the organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite films of (hydroxypropyl)cellulose (HPC)/TiO 2 is presented. At the first stage, the oxotitanium hydrogel phase was obtained by the mineralization of (tetra‐isopropyl)orthotitanate (TIPT) modified by the methacrylic acid (MAA) in 15 wt% solution of H 2 O 2 at room temperature and subsequent annealing at the temperature of 85°C. The crystallization of the nanoparticles of TiO 2 was conducted at the oxotitanium hydrogel phase at temperatures around 120°C in the closed vessel. Nanocomposite hybrid films were prepared by the casting method from a solution of HPC and TiO 2 nanoparticles in the water. The films of nanocomposite with 10 µm thickness are transparent to visible light and have a lower glass transition temperature compared with HPC in the bulk. This shift of the glass transition is interpreted in terms of packing density of HPC in the interface of HPC nanocomposite with TiO 2 . The X‐ray diffraction pattern of the nanocomposite film suggests a lower amount of mesomorphic phase of HPC in the composite compared with HPC in the bulk. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.