Titania-coated polystyrene hybrid microballs prepared with miniemulsion polymerization

Hybrid microballs with polystyrene cores coated by titania nanoparticles were prepared in miniemulsion polymerization. Acrylic acid was used as a comonomer to promote locating titania nanoparticles on the polymer's surface. The addition of a hydrophobic agent effectively prevents monomer diffusing into the aqueous phase. The morphology of hybrid particles was examined with the transmission electron microscope, and its change pattern with reactive conditions was observed. The infrared spectra of hybrid nanoparticles showed that there existed a certain interaction between titania nanoparticles and polymers. The crystallization morphology of hybrid particles before and after calcination was characterized with X-ray diffraction.