Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/polyaniline core-shell nanocomposite

Polyaniline (PANI) as a promising conducting polymer has been used to prepare polyaniline/TiO₂ (PANI/TiO₂) nanocomposite with core-shell structure as photocatalyst. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles with an average crystal size of 21?nm were encapsulated by PANI via the in situ polymerization of aniline on the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles. FT?CIR, UV-Vis-NIR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques were used to characterize the PANI/TiO₂ core-shell nanocomposite. Photocatalytic activity of PANI/TiO₂ nanocomposite was investigated under both UV and visible light irradiations and compared with unmodified TiO₂ nanoparticles. Results indicated deposition of PANI on the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles which improved the photocatalytic activity of pristine TiO₂ nanoparticles.