10.1186/2228-5326-2-15

Synthesis and characterization of nano TiO2-SiO2: PVA composite - a novel route

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  • Rajendran Venckatesh*1,
  • Kartha Balachandaran2,
  • Rajeshwari Sivaraj3,
  1. Faculty of Chemistry, Government Arts College, Udumalpet, Tamilnadu, 642 126, IN
  2. Research Scholar, Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, 641 046, IN Department of Science and Humanities, Rathinavel Subramaniam College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, 641 402, IN
  3. Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, 641 021, IN
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Published in Issue 2012-07-17

How to Cite

Venckatesh, R., Balachandaran, K., & Sivaraj, R. (2012). Synthesis and characterization of nano TiO2-SiO2: PVA composite - a novel route. International Nano Letters, 2(1 (December 2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/2228-5326-2-15
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Abstract

Abstract A novel, simple, less time consuming and cost-effective sol–gel method has been developed to synthesize nano titania-silica with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite relatively at low temperature in acidic pH. Titania sol is prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride and was mixed with silicic acid and tetrahydrofuran mixture. The reaction was carried out under vigorous stirring for 6 h and dried at room temperature with the addition of PVA solution. The resulting powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy and thermal techniques. The grain size of the particles was calculated by X-ray diffraction; surface morphology and chemical composition were determined from scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy; metal oxide stretching was confirmed from FT-IR spectroscopy; bandgap was calculated using UV-visible spectroscopy, and thermal stability of the prepared composite was determined by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis. Since TiO 2 got agglomerated on the surface of SiO 2 , effective absorptive sites increase which in turn increase the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting composite.

Keywords

  • polymer nanocomposite,
  • scanning electron microscope,
  • sol–gel,
  • thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis,
  • X-ray diffraction
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