Abstract
Stable dispersion of titania nanoparticles in organic solvents are obtained by grafting poly(methyl methacrylate) layer on to the surface. Titania nanoparticles are synthesized through the hydrolysis of titanium (IV) isopropoxide. The average size of the titania particles is found to be 15 ± 2 nm. The polymer layer was introduced onto the surface by immobilizing the initiating moiety. Azo initiator moiety required for surface-initiated conventional free radical polymerization and a tertiary bromide initiator moiety required for ATRP are attached covalently to the titania nanoparticulate surface through the surface hydroxyl groups. The “encapsulation” of PMMA layer results in the steric stabilization of the titania nanoparticles. Another important finding is that it is possible to grow polymer layer in a controlled fashion.
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Acknowledgements
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Volkswagen Research Foundation, Germany are gratefully acknowledged by the authors for providing necessary funds to carry out this work. The authors wish to thank Mrs. D. Mössner and Dr. S. Santer, Chemistry and Physics of Interfaces, Department for Microsystems and Engineering (IMTEK), Freiburg, Germany for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy measurements.
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Raghuraman, G.K., Rühe, J. & Dhamodharan, R. Grafting of PMMA brushes on titania nanoparticulate surface via surface-initiated conventional radical and “controlled” radical polymerization (ATRP). J Nanopart Res 10, 415–427 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9268-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9268-9