Abstract
In-situ growth of titania nanoparticles in poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanofibers has been successfully achieved by combining sol-gel method and electrospinning process. Titania precursor, tetra-n-butyl titanate (TBT), was firstly hydrolyzed in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and then blend with a solution of PET in mixture of trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane (TFA/DCM) to form a homogeneous solution for electrospinning. Titania nanoparticles in-situ generated in the electrospun nanofibers via a hydrothermal treatment process at 70 °C-90 °C. The morphology and crystallinity of PET/TiO2 hybrid nanofibers were investigated using TEM and DSC. The results showed that titania nanoparticles of anatase phase with an average diameter of about 10 nm in-situ generated both inside and on the surface of PET electrospun nanofibers. The reversible networks formed between titania nanoparticles and PET macromolecular chains led to considerable decrease of PET crystallinity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1401-1403 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Materials Letters |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 30 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
- Electrospinning
- Nanoparticles
- Poly (ethylene terephthalate)
- Sol-gel
- TiO