Enhanced Dispersion of TiO2 Nanoparticles in a TiO2/PEDOT:PSS Hybrid Nanocomposite via Plasma-Liquid Interactions.
A facile method to synthesize a TiO2/PEDOT:PSS hybrid nanocomposite material in aqueous solution through direct current (DC) plasma processing at atmospheric pressure and room temperature has been demonstrated. The dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles is enhanced and TiO2/polymer hybrid nanoparticles with a distinct core shell structure have been obtained. Increased electrical conductivity was observed for the plasma treated TiO2/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite. The improvement in nanocomposite properties is due to the enhanced dispersion and stability in liquid polymer of microplasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles. Both plasma induced surface charge and nanoparticle surface termination with specific plasma chemical species are proposed to provide an enhanced barrier to nanoparticle agglomeration and promote nanoparticle-polymer binding.
School of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University Jinling College, Nanjing 210089, PR China.|Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
Yazi
Y
Liu
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, UK BT9 5AH.
Dan
D
Sun
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Sadegh
S
Askari
Department of Chemical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-7217, USA.|Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Jenish
J
Patel
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Manuel
M
Macias-Montero
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Somak
S
Mitra
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310002, PR China.
Richao
R
Zhang
Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU,UK.
Wen-Feng
WF
Lin
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Davide
D
Mariotti
Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, BT37 0QB, UK.
Paul
P
Maguire