The interfacial effect of TiO 2 –Ag core–shell micro‐/nanowires on poly(arylene ether nitrile)

Novel TiO 2 –Ag core–shell micro‐/nanowires ( TiO 2 shell coating on Ag core) have been successfully prepared via a solvent–thermal method. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyses revealed that the micro‐/nanowires were composed of Ag, Ti and O elements, and Ag was face‐centered cubic whereas TiO 2 was mainly amorphous. Interestingly, scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ) and transmission electron microscopy results showed that most of the TiO 2 bristles were perpendicular to and uniformly studded on the surface of the Ag cores. Subsequently, TiO 2 –Ag/poly(arylene ether nitrile) ( PEN ) composite films were prepared via a solution‐casting method in order to investigate the effect of TiO 2 –Ag on the PEN matrix. SEM images showed that there was good interfacial adhesion between fillers and PEN matrix owing to the special bristle‐like structure. Thermal analysis results showed that the TiO 2 –Ag/ PEN composite films possessed excellent thermal properties endowed by the PEN matrix. The dielectric constant of the composite films increased to 9.3 at 100 Hz when the TiO 2 –Ag loading reached 40 wt%. Rheology measurements revealed that the network formed by TiO 2 –Ag was sensitive to shear stress and nearly time independent. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry