Preparation of Thermo-Responsive Functional Composites by Embedding TiO2/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Thermo-responsive functional composites were prepared by embedding inorganic particles within thermo-responsive microgel. In this study, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) was used as thermo-responsive polymer and calcium alginate was used as support polymer. Also, TiO2 and Fe3O4 were used as functional inorganic nanoparticles. In the experiment, thermo-responsive functional composites were fabricated by using one step gelling process. Two solutions were prepared, a polymer solution and a gelling solution. In the polymer solution, a thermo-responsive polymer (NIPAM) and a cross-linker agent were dissolved. TiO2/Fe3O4 was also dispersed in the polymer solution. The gelling solution was prepared by dissolving a polymerization initiator and an accelerator into a buffer solution. When the droplets of polymer solution containing functional particles were dripped into the gelling solution, the polymers were cross-linked and formed gel beads instantaneously. The characterization was carried out by examining their thermo-responsive properties, photocatalytic activity and magnetic property. The experimental results showed that TiO2/Fe3O4 embedded microgels were obtained successfully. They exhibited thermo-responsive volume change, photocatalytic activity, and magnetic property.