Synthesis and characterization of TiO ₂ /Ag/polymer ternary nanoparticles via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

We report on the novel ternary hybrid materials consisting of semiconductor (TiO ₂ ), metal (Ag) and polymer (poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (POEM)). First, a hydrophilic polymer, i.e. POEM, was grafted from TiO ₂ nanoparticles via the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique. These TiO ₂ -POEM brush nanoparticles were used to template the formation of Ag nanoparticles by introduction of a AgCF ₃ SO ₃ precursor and a NaBH ₄ aqueous solution for reduction process. Successful grafting of polymeric chains from the surface of TiO ₂ nanoparticles and the in situ formation of Ag nanoparticles within the polymeric chains were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FT-IR spectroscopy also revealed the specific interaction of Ag nanoparticles with the C=O groups of POEM brushes. This study presents a simple route for the in situ synthesis of both metal and polymer confined within the semiconductor, producing ternary hybrid inorganic-organic nanomaterials.