Processable polyaniline/titania nanocomposites with good photocatalytic and conductivity properties prepared via peroxo-titanium complex catalyzed emulsion polymerization approach

The homogeneous polyaniline (PAni)/TiO2 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a facile emulsion polymerization with the assistance of peroxo-titanium complex (PTC), where PTC was used as both the TiO2 precursor and the oxidant for the polymerization of PAni/TiO2 nanocomposites. Comprehensive analysis indicated that anatase TiO2 nanocrystals (about 4–6 nm) were well-dispersed in the PAni chains without aggregation, and the TiO2 were anchored on the polymer chains through chemical interactions, such as Tisingle bondOsingle bondNsingle bondC and Tisingle bondOsingle bondC, which made the PAni/TiO2 composite possess better thermal stability. The PAni/TiO2 composite could be well dispersed in common solvent, such as acetone, and stay stability without any precipitation for a month. Since the PAni/TiO2 composite could be well dispersed in common solvent, the PAni/TiO2 dispersion may be coated on the surface of Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film, showing good processable properties, and the prepared PAni/TiO2/PET films exhibit good photocatalysis and best conductivity (2.08 × 10−2 s cm−1), when the molar ratio of aniline (AN) and Ti in the PAni/TiO2 composite is 1/1. The possible reaction mechanism was also discussed. The facile synthesized method proposed can also be used for the preparation of other conducting polymer/semiconductor nanocomposites.