PEG Affects on the Prepared TiO2 Nanocrystals

TiO2 nanocrystal is one of the most important nanomaterials and during last decade has attracted a lot of interests due to its potential applications in photocatalysis [1], nanophotonics and nanomedicine [2]. Experimental results have shown that the functionalized TiO2 nanocrystals with different materials (surfactant and polymers) can be used for different applications [3-4]. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is on of these materials and can be applied for fictionalization of TiO2 surface. In this approach, we have tried to evaluate the different methods for functionalization of TiO2 nanocrystals by PEG [5-6]. In order to evaluate the PEG effects on the TiO2 nanocrystals we have used two different processes. In the first method the TiO2 nanocrystals have been prepared and then mixed with PEG solution. In second method the PEG is added to TTIP solution and TiO2 nanocrystals will be prepared by colloidal technique in present of PEG. Experimental results have shown that the photoactivity was enhanced by decomposition of methylene blue (MB). TEM image was also demonstrated that the structure and morphology of TiO2/PEG composites depend strongly on the experimental procedure. It was found that crystalline size of anatase (< 10nm) can be derived by colloidal technique at 70oC for 20 minutes