Formation of the modified ultrafine anatase TiO2nanoparticles using the nanofiber as a microsized reactor

Abstract

This paper reports a facile method for preparation of modified ultrafine anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles using the hybrid nanofiber as a microsized reactor. The hybrid nanofibers comprised of poly(vinyl pyrolidone) (PVP) and amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared via the electrospinning method. When the hybrid nanofibers were treated with water vapor at a temperature of 80 °C or above, the nanofibers acted as microsized reactors in which the amorphous TiO₂ nanoparticles grew and crystallized into ultrafine anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles. The PVP matrix in this microsized reactor could be regarded as a substrate for the reaction and protected the over-growth of the TiO₂ nanoparticles during the reaction. Morphological and structural characteristics of the hybrid nanofibers and TiO₂ nanoparticles were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) method, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis. The anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles were modified with PVP molecules during the crystallization process, and are expected to be easily mixed with other polymers to fabricate functional textiles.