Fabrication of a New Polyimide/Titania (TiO2) Nanocomposite Thin Film by the Sol-Gel Route

Polyimide/titania nanocomposite (PI/TiO₂ NC) was successfully fabricated through the in situ formation of TiO₂ within a PI matrix by the sol-gel process. FT-IR and XRD results confirmed the formations of the TiO₂ in the PI matrix. Transmission electron microscopy of the NC10% showed that the TiO₂ phase was well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The mechanical properties of the NC films were increased and elongation at break decreased with increasing TiO₂ content. Thermogravimetric analysis results revealed that the decomposition temperature of hybrid materials was increased with an increase in the content of TiO₂ nanoparticles within the NC films.