The synthesis and preliminary characterization of nanocomposites obtained by loading polyethylene oxide with TiO2 nanoparticles are reported. Almost cubic TiO2 nanoparticles (anatase) of about 15 nm have been purchased from Nanostructured and Amorphous Materials, Inc. PEO has been purchased from Sigma Aldrich. PEO-TiO2 nanocomposites were obtained by high pressure homogenization by using a Nano DeBee equipment, at room temperature. Differential Scanning Calorimetry measurements have been performed by TA Instruments equipment. Raman spectroscopy spectra have been recorded by Bruker Sentera confocal microscope with a laser diode operating at 785 nm. Raman spectra of some samples (pristine PEO, TiO2, and some PEO-TiO2 nanocomposites) are collected in Fig. 1. The typical Raman lines of anatase and of PEO have been observed. Upon loading with TiO2, the lines due to the polymeric matrix are becoming weaker and broader. The dependence of the Raman line position, shape, and width on the concentration of TiO2 is analyzed in detail. Additional information obtained by DSC are discussed. The dependence of the melting, crystallization, and glass transition temperature on the content of TiO2 and heating/cooling rates are discussed. The DSC dependencies for the second heating-cooling cycle, showing the glass, crystallization, and melting transitions are shown in Fig. 2.

Raman investigations on polyethylene oxide - TiO2 nanocomposites

249th National Meeting (2015)

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