Study on PS/TiO2 nanocomposite particles

Abstract

Monodisperse polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles with a size of 190 nm were first synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Then PS/titanium dioxide (TiO2; core/shell) nanocomposite particles were prepared by coating TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the PS nanoparticles using aqua ammonia/triethanolamine as the positive/negative catalyst pair. Roughness degree of the surface of the shell of the PS/TiO2 nanocomposite particles increased with increasing amounts of aqua ammonia or triethanolamine. Morphology of the surface of the TiO2 shell can be regulated by changing the amounts of aqua ammonia and triethanolamine synchronously. The PS/TiO2 nanocomposite particles obtained at 2.00 g/0.10 g, 3.00 g/0.20 g and 5.00g/0.40 g of aqua ammonia/triethanolamine showed good morphology of the surface of the TiO2 shell. Roughness on the surface of the TiO2 shell was remarkably heightened when the reaction temperature of the hydrolysis and condensation process was increased from 50°C to 70°C.