Nano Guard

Introduction

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are found in everything from sunscreens to paints and toothpastes. However, current methods of their manufacture require costly chemicals and high temperature and pressure and produce unstable nanoparticles. This makes them difficult to transport, too. Now a method has been developed that can solve these problems. The new nanoreactor consists of a polystyrene core surrounded by a network of Poly N-isopropylacrylamide chains. When a titanium compound is added to the polymer, crystalline titanium dioxide nanoparticles are formed within the polymer matrix at room temperature. The matrix surrounds the nanoparticles completely and keeps them stable in crystalline.

Source

Down To Earth, March 2013