Synthesis of TiO2-grafted onto PMMA film via ATRP: Using monomer as a coupling agent and reusability in photocatalytic application

•TiO2 coating onto PMMA film by ATRP was reported.•The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 grafted onto PMMA remains constant after 5 cycles.•The Ti contents on PMMA after reaction was no significant changed.

Grafting TiO2 onto PMMA was studied using the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique. Each step in the grafting process was monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. The glass temperature was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphology and bulk composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The morphology of particles grafted onto the polymer was investigated by the cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface composition was measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, a method of grafting TiO2 onto PMMA was successfully completed and confirmed by various techniques. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated under UV light irradiation. The reusability of TiO2-g-PMMA films was studied in detail.

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