Synthesis and Characterization of Hollow TiO2 Particles Coated with Polyimide Brushes by Click Chemistry

In order to improve the compatibility between nanoparticles and polymer matrix, a feasible processing way for grafting polyimides (PI) on the surface of hollow TiO2 particles was developed. Hollow TiO2 spheres were prepared by using polystyrene-methyl acrylic acid latex as a template starting from tetrabutyl titanate. Surface graft of azide-decorated hollow TiO2 spheres with well-defined alkyne-terminated PI were achieved by "click" chemistry in three steps: (1) choloromethylation and azidization of hollow TiO2, (2) preparation of alkyne-terminated PI by polycondensation, (3) click coupling between the azidized hollow TiO2 and the alkyne-terminated PI under the catalysis of CuSO4/sodium ascorbate. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1HNMR) spectra were used to illustrate quantitative transformation of the PI brushes on hollow TiO2 particles into the desired functional group. The morphology of hollow TiO2-PI composite particles was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which showed the irregular hollow structure. The results indicate that the grafting of polymer chains with thermostability and flame retardance on the surface of hollow TiO2 sphere is successful.