Influence of the sacrificial polystyrene removal pathway on the TiO₂ nanocapsule structure

Hérault, Nelly; Fromm, Katharina M.

doi:10.1002/hlca.201700014

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Influence of the sacrificial polystyrene removal pathway on the TiO₂ nanocapsule structure

Hérault, Nelly Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Fromm, Katharina M. Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

01.06.2017

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Helvetica Chimica Acta. - 2017, vol. 100, no. 6, p. e1700014

English This study demonstrates the significant influence of the polystyrene removal pathway on the TiO₂ nanocapsules obtained from PS@TiO₂ core-shell particles. In a first step, the polystyrene spheres were coated with titanium oxide via hydrolysis and condensation of the titanium precursor to form PS@TiO₂ core-shell particles. Then, the creation of the empty cavity to form TiO₂ nanocapsules was achieved by removing the polystyrene template by i) thermal decomposition of the polystyrene or ii) dissolution of the polystyrene using Soxhlet extractor followed by a thermal procedure. These pathways to remove the polystyrene were investigated by thermogravimetric studies, IR spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The final TiO₂ nanocapsule structure strongly depends on the sacrificial polystyrene removal pathway. The preservation of the TiO₂ nanocapsules was obtained essentially when the polystyrene was dissolved before the crystallization of the TiO₂.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Chimie

Language