Photocatalytic and magnetic titanium dioxide/polystyrene/magnetite composite hybrid polymer particles

Abstract

Novel multifunctional titanium dioxide (TiO 2 )/ polystyrene/magnetite composite hybrid polymer particle dispersions with TiO 2 nanoparticles in the surface and magnetite nanoparticles encapsulated inside the polymer matrix were produced by Pickering miniemulsion polymerization in one single step. Whereas TiO 2 nanoparticles were used to impart photocatalytic functionality and colloidal stability, magnetite nanoparticles were incorporated to allow an easy extraction for recovery and reuse of the composite multifunctional particles. The morphology of the composite particles was assessed by scanning transition electron microscopy (STEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The paramagnetism of the particles was analyzed using a SQUID magnetometer and their photocatalytic activity was assessed by degrading methylene blue (MB) solutions under UV light and by recovering and reusing of the particles in five consecutive cycles.

Polymer blending and nanophotocatalyst loading synergy in visible light‐driven photocatalytic PES/SPSf mixed matrix membranes

“…Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are ahead in offering the promise of complete mineralization of dyes and micropollutants on the premise of nonselectivity of reactive oxidation species (ROS). 6 Among the AOPs, photocatalysis has an advantage of visible light activation of the catalyst leading to reduction of the costs due to the use of UV lamps to activate the catalyst. However, to date, the miniscule particle size of photocatalysts makes photocatalysis a potential secondary polluter after the catalyst has completed the wastewater treatment process.…”

“…Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are ahead in offering the promise of complete mineralization of dyes and micropollutants on the premise of nonselectivity of reactive oxidation species (ROS) 6 . Among the AOPs, photocatalysis has an advantage of visible light activation of the catalyst leading to reduction of the costs due to the use of UV lamps to activate the catalyst.…”

A General Nanocoating Method via Photoinduced Self-Initiation

“…Inorganic–organic core–shell hybrid nanoparticles have attracted numerous research interest as they show various applications in nano-optics, − photocatalysis, − biosensing, , drug delivery, − etc., making them one of the most versatile structures in colloidal chemistry. − The material composition can be engineered in both inorganic and organic parts, which significantly diversifies the types of core–shell hybrids. Traditional synthetic approaches toward these hybrids systems can be generally categorized as “graft-to” and “graft-from”. − The graft-from approach commonly employs a direct synthesis of the polymer shells on the surface of the cores via surface polymerization. − However, the way of surface initiation is nontrivial as surface functionalization of initiators has to be involved and solvent compatibility has to be considered, which limits its application only to a few types of polymers. − The graft-to approach of a polymer coating via self-assembly is based on the strong interaction between the core particles and polymer chains. − However, the surface affinity between the cores and polymers as well as the solvent polarity needs to be engineered to accommodate the assembly conditions, which again only limits to certain types of copolymers.…”

Magnetically enhanced polymer-supported ceria nanocatalysts for the hydration of nitriles

“…The accessibility of the secondary inorganic species can be controlled by tuning their hydrophobicity and their surface chemistry via different functionalization strategies [44]. In this fashion, magnetically recoverable photocatalysts consisting into polystyrene-supported titania nanoparticles with a magnetic core were prepared by a Pickering miniemulsion polymerization process [45].…”