In-situ growth of titania nanoparticles in electrospun polymer nanofibers at low temperature

Abstract In-situ growth of titania nanoparticles in poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanofibers has been successfully achieved by combining sol–gel method and electrospinning process. Titania precursor, tetra-n-butyl titanate (TBT), was firstly hydrolyzed in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and then blend with a solution of PET in mixture of trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane (TFA/DCM) to form a homogeneous solution for electrospinning. Titania nanoparticles in-situ generated in the electrospun nanofibers via a hydrothermal treatment process at 70 °C–90 °C. The morphology and crystallinity of PET/TiO 2 hybrid nanofibers were investigated using TEM and DSC. The results showed that titania nanoparticles of anatase phase with an average diameter of about 10 nm in-situ generated both inside and on the surface of PET electrospun nanofibers. The reversible networks formed between titania nanoparticles and PET macromolecular chains led to considerable decrease of PET crystallinity.