Study on the optical properties of PPV/TiO2 nanocomposites

The optical properties of poly(phenylenevinylene) (PPV)/TiO2 nanocomposites, prepared via the sol–gel process, were investigated by UV–VIS, FT-IR, FL spectroscopy and TEM. TEM images indicated that the surfaces of TiO2 nanoparticles became rough, and finally formed the connected network as the TiO2 content increased. FT-IR spectra showed the titanium butoxide hydrolyzed to form Ti organic compound, which can result in the connected network of TiO2 nanoparticles. The conjugation of PPV polymer chains can be interrupted by the TiO2 network structure, as evidenced in UV–VIS spectra. The investigation of the PL spectra revealed that the emitted light of the PPV/TiO2 nanocomposites blue shifted without fine structure, and the PL intensity enhanced, when the TiO2 network formed. These phenomena suggested that the optical properties of the PPV/TiO2 nanocomposites were dependent on the interfacial structure between PPV and TiO2 nanoparticles.