Synthesis, characterisation and functionalisation of ZnO and TiO₂ nanostructures: used as dopants in liquid crystal polymers

Abstract

Uniform ZnO nanorods (NRs), TiO₂ and ZnO spherical nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesised and their surface modified using polyvinylpyrolidine (PVP), 1-decanethiol (SH∼), trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and TOPO-ethylenediamine derivative as a capping agent molecule. The pre-functionalised nanomaterials were doped into liquid crystalline (LC) polyurethane and polyacrylate in order to obtain nanocomposites. The morphological studies of pure NPs, functionalised NPs, pure polymer and doped polymers were accomplished by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods as well as energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)-Point analysis and mapping. It has been observed that after doping, the morphology of the polymer was changed to a highly porous one.

Keywords:

• nanorods
• zinc oxide
• titanium dioxide
• capping agent
• nanocomposite
• liquid crystal polymer

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the TEAM program from the Foundation for Polish Science (Project TEAM/2010-5/4). The SEM and TEM images were obtained using equipment purchased within CePT Project No.: POIG.02.02.00-14-024/08-00.