Synthesis of PS-g-TiO₂ Nanocomposites through a Simple Method of Surface Initiated Radical Polymerization

Abstract

Hybrid nanocomposites of polystyrene (PS) and TiO₂ were prepared by the facile surface thiol-lactam initiated radical polymerization (TLIRP). At first, the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles was modified by 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane to prepare TiO₂-SH. Subsequently, a radical polymerization of styrene was accomplished in the presence of TiO₂-SH and butyrolactam to afford PS-g-TiO₂ nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were investigated by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR, GPC and XPS. The morphology of the nanocomposites was captured on TEM images, showing the encapsulation of TiO₂ with PS. The TGA data suggest that the thermal stability of PS was enhanced upon inclusion of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The dispersability of TiO₂ nanoparticles was improved significantly after functionalization of PS chains.

Keywords:

• Polymer brush
• PS-g-TiO₂
• surface initiated polymerization
• TiO₂ nanoparticles
• TLIRP

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the grant from the Industrial Source Technology Development Program (Project No. 10035163) of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) of Korea and by Inter-Metropolitan Cooperation Development funded by the Presidential Committee on Regional Development.