Hybrid Polyaniline-TiO2 Nanocomposite Langmuir-Blodgett Thin Films: Self-Assembly and Their Characterization

Polyaniline (PANi)-titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposite materials were prepared by chemical polymerization of aniline doped with TiO2 nanoparticles. Surface pressure-area (-A) isotherms of these nanocomposites show phase transformations in the monolayer during compression process. Multiple isotherms indicate that the monolayer of the nanocomposite material can retain its configuration during compression-expansion cycles. Langmuir-Blodgett thin films of PANi-TiO2 nanocomposite were deposited on the quartz and indium tin oxide coated conducting glass substrates. Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy study indicates the presence of TiO2 in PANi, whereas X-ray Diffraction study confirmed the anatase phase of TiO2 and particle size (approximate to nm) of PANi-TiO2. The morphology of Langmuir-Blodgett films of these nanocomposites was also characterized by atomic force microscopy. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41386.