Preparation of epoxy-based hybrid films from an aqueous TiO₂ dispersion via solvent exchange and surface modification with n-octylphosphonic acid

Transparent TiO₂/epoxy hybrid films with high refractive indices have been prepared from a 9-mass% aqueous TiO₂ (rutile form) dispersion by a combination of dispersion medium exchange and surface modification with n-octylphosphonic acid (OPA). The dispersion medium was exchanged from H₂O to N-methylformamide (NMF) by distilling off H₂O after the addition of NMF. The TiO₂ surface was then modified with OPA by heating at 80°C for 24 h. IR and NMR spectra of the OPA-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) revealed that the OPA moiety was grafted onto the surface of the TiO₂ NPs through Ti-O-P bonds. The resulting OPA-modified TiO₂ NPs were employed to prepare epoxy-based hybrid films possessing excellent transparency. The transmittance in the entire visible range (400-800 nm) of the hybrid film containing 66.3 mass% TiO₂ was above 94%. This hybrid film also exhibited the highest refractive index (n = 1.74), which represented a remarkable increase from that of the pure epoxy resin film (n = 1.51).