Electrophoretic TiO2 nanoparticle modified with poly (methyl methacrylate)

Although TiO2 nanoparticle displays good electrophoretic mobility, its relatively high density causes severe sedimentation problems when suspended in media. Thereby, in order to improve the density mismatch in the suspension, surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles with hydrophilic surface characteristics was coated with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via a dispersion polymerization technique as a core-shell structure. A charge control agent (CCA) was also added to the suspending fluid in order to enhance surface charge of the nanoparticles and stabilize them suspended in low dielectric media. Chemical structure, particle size distribution and surface morphology, and particle shape of PMMA coated TiO2 nanoparticles were examined via FT-IR, electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. Mobility of PMMA coated TiO2 nanoparticles was also measured for different CCA concentrations.