The Role of TiO2 Nanoparticles in the Structural, Thermal and Electrical Properties and Antibacterial Activity of PEO/PVP Blend for Energy Storage and Antimicrobial Application

• Published in: Journal of inorganic and organometallic polymers and materials 2022-12, Vol.32 (12), p.4715-4728
• Main Authors: Sebak, M. A., Qahtan, Talal F., Asnag, G. M., Abdallah, E. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Alternating current; Biomedical materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Dielectric loss; E coli; Electrical properties; Energy storage; Ethylene oxide; Food packaging; Food packaging industry; Fourier transforms; Functional groups; Infrared spectroscopy; Inorganic Chemistry; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Organic Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Polyvinylpyrrolidone; Sol-gel processes; Stability analysis; Synthesis; Thermal stability; Thermogravimetric analysis; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1574-1443; 1574-1451
• DOI: 10.1007/s10904-022-02440-8

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) were successfully synthesized via the sol–gel method. Samples based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (50/50 wt%) loaded with TiO 2 NPs was prepared via casting method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the semi-crystalline features of the PEO/PVP blend. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the prepared TiO 2 NPs have an average diameter of about 14.5 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy exhibited the interactions between TiO 2 NPs and the functional groups of PEO/PVP blend, in particular the C–O–C ether group for PEO and C=O groups for PVP. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows an improvement in thermal stability after incorporation of TiO 2 NPs into a polymeric matrix. Alternating current (AC) conductivity was increased with increasing concentration of the TiO 2 . The maximum value of AC conductivity was 1.65 × 10 –5 S.cm −1 at 0.60 wt% of TiO 2 NPs in the polymeric sample. After the addition of TiO 2 NPs, an enhancement in the dielectric constant (ε′) and dielectric loss (ɛʺ) of PEO/PVP were revealed. The PEO/PVP/TiO 2 NPs samples were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria test. These nanocomposite films can be used in the semiconductors, portable electrochemical battery and energy-storage industries, due to the remarkable improvements in optical, thermal and electrical properties. Also, the excellent antibacterial activity of these samples supply a new and simple way to synthesize polymeric samples as functional biomaterial and has potential for use in food packaging application.