Experimental investigations on Nano Titania - Polyacrylamide Composite Films

Abstract

TiO2 nanoparticles (titania) filled polyacrylamide (PAM) based composite films were prepared by solution casting technique, with filler levels (FLs) varying from 0.0 up to 19.50 Wt%. Spectroscopic, thermal, and electrical properties of these composite films were experimentally studied. Optical studies revealed a decrease in optical band gap of TiO2 NPs filled PAM composite with increase in titania NP content in the composite, and also showed the formation of intermediate bands due to formation of CTCs. Thermal studies revealed that TiO2 NP filled PAM composite samples exhibited low value of Tg and improved thermal stability at low (0.02 and 0.4 Wt%) and moderate FLs. The samples were subjected to temperature dependent Direct current (DC) electrical measurements in the temperature range of 303K to 340K. Variable Range Hopping (VRH) model was used to analyze the data. Activation energy and mott parameters were determined from VRH model. Results revealed a decrease in activation energy for thermally stimulated mobility of charge carriers, and so the electrical conductivity increases at low FLs. SEM images revealed good dispersion of titania NPs in the polymeric (PAM) host material at low FLs (FL = 0.02 and 0.4 Wt%). EDS spectra indicated the existence of C, N, O, Ti elements as the constituents of the studied polymer composites.