TiO2 Nanoparticles and Epoxy-TiO2 Nanocomposites: A Review of Synthesis, Modification Strategies, and Photocatalytic Potentialities

The review presents a short background of the investigated techniques carried out on TiO2-based epoxy nanocomposites. TiO2 is one of the best nanofillers for polymers due to its aspect ratio and high intercalation chemistry. The addition of reinforcement to the matrix material generally enhances their physical properties through the interaction of the surface area of reinforcement with the matrix. The nanosize reinforcements are used to show greater enhancement in the properties such as stiffness and toughness. TiO2-based epoxy nanocomposites are particularly important and show promising applications in every field of life ranging from ships to airplanes and spaceships, sports to traveling, diagnostic to treatment, and electronics to chemistry. This review explains many preparation processes of TiO2 nanoparticles such as sol–gel, microemulsion, precipitation, anodization, hydrothermal, vapor deposition, sonication and microwave, solvothermal, solid condition giving out (milling/mechanical alloying), mechano-chemical, laser ablation and radiofrequency thermal plasma. It also elucidates the synthesis of different types of epoxy resins, their properties, modification strategies, and potential applications of TiO2 nanocomposites.