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M. Raza, S. Ivanovici, G. Kickelbick:
"Anisotropic Surface Functionalization of Titania Nanoparticles by a Silica Shell";
Poster: 12.Österreichische Chemietage, Klagenfurt; 2007-09-10 - 2007-09-13; in: "12. Österreichische Chemietage - Abstracts", (2007), ISBN: 978-3-900554-61-3; 62.

In recent years, TiO₂ has been studied extensively as photocatalyst to deal with environmental pollution, water purification, waste water treatment, air purification, self-cleaning glass coatings, as biocompatible coatings for bone implants and as components in photovoltaics, gas sensors, and electrochromic display devices. The light-induced redox reaction at the surface of photocatalytic titania nanoparticles results in the decomposition of organic compounds. In this project we investigated the synthesis of photocatalytic anatase titania nanoparticles with a partial surface-functionalization that protect one side of the particle surface. In a first step anatase nanoparticles were synthesized through various sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. The well-controlled procedures allow the controlled design of particle size and morphology. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the obtained nanoparticles. After optimization of the process monodispersed particles with diameters between 8 and 30 nm were surface-functionalized with silica. Thickness of the silica layer was calculated from TEM and silica percentage was determined using EDX measurements. The surface modification of the obtained anisotropic titania nanoparticles was investigated applying ATR, FT-IR and TGA. TEM and DLS analyses have shown very little agglomeration of particles. The obtained anisotropically modified titania nanoparticles were applied for the formations of various inorganic-organic hybrid coatings and films.