Synthesis and Characterization of Sol-Gel Silica-Epoxy Hybrid Nanocomposite Based on Indium Tin Oxide

Hybrid coatings based on sol-gel precursors (3-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane; GPTMS and tetramethoxyorthosilicate; TMOS) and indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles have been made and evaluated. This hybrid network possessed crystalline regions and amorphous ones due to ITO nanoparticles and silica network respectively, which was elucidated through X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). To improve the distribution/ dispersion of ITO nanoparticles in the polymer matrix, the surface of nanoparicles was modified with silane groups (m-ITO). In this work, we have focused on investigation of the chemical bonds and chemical structure of the hybrid coatings and the effect of cross-linking agent, ethylenediamine (EDA), on the epoxy ring opening reaction, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Mapping of the distribution of silica, indium and tin oxides constituting the specimen was obtained via Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).

Keywords:

Nano-composite , Antistatic- Coatings , Hybrid , Organic-Inorganic nanostructured material , ITO Nanoparticles