Preparation and characteristics of polyimide–TiO2 nanocomposite film

A sol–gel approach has been developed to prepare polyimide–TiO₂ hybrid films from soluble polyimides and a modified titanium precursor. The rate of the hydrolysis reaction of titanium alkoxide can be controlled by using acetic acid as a modifier. FTIR and XPS indicated that TiO₂ particles were well distributed in polyimide matrixes with particle size small per than 60 nm. Polyimide hybrid films having the TiO₂ component ≤10% exhibited high thermal stability, high optical transparency and good mechanical properties and possessed higher dielectric constants than correspondingly polyimides. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry