Influence of PVP molecular weight on TiO2 structures prepared by the electrospinning and sol–gel method

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2024-06, Vol.35 (18), p.1207, Article 1207
• Main Authors: Avalos-Grajales, J., Martinez‐Lopez, Andrea G., Reyes-Gasga, J., Tinoco, J. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylacetone; Anatase; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electric fields; Low molecular weights; Materials Science; Molecular weight; Morphology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optics; Polymers; Polyvinylpyrrolidone; Scanning electron microscopy; Software; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-024-12967-w

The main physicochemical properties of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) prepared by combination of electrospinning and sol–gel methods have been investigated in this study. A polymer solution of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), titanium (IV) butoxide, and acetylacetone in methanol was used and anatase TiO 2 phase was reached after thermal calcination at 425 °C. Different kind of characterizations were performed with the aim to analyze the main morphological, structural, and optical properties of the synthetized material. The main results show that the use of high molecular weight PVP easily promotes fiber formation by electrospinning, but if low molecular weight PVP is employed, electrospray is promoted instead of electrospinning producing nearly spherical particles. Additionally, it was observed that the average diameter of the structures is increased as the molecular weight is increased. The main results demonstrate that the morphological and structural characteristics of TiO 2 nanostructures can be modified trough the molecular weight of PVP.