Preparation and electrophoretic response of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) coated TiO2 nanoparticles for electronic paper application

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were encapsulated with poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PMMA-co-MAA) via simple method of coacervation, in order to improve the dispersion stability of the nanoparticles in a dielectric medium and to reduce the density mismatch between TiO2 and a dielectric medium for a electrophoretic display application. The morphology of PMMA-co-MAA coated TiO2 nanoparticles were observed via SEM and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS). It was found that density of PMMA coated TiO2 nanoparticles were reduced by coating process via gas pycnometer. Electrophoretic mobility of the fabricated nanoparticles in a low dielectric medium with charge control agent was measured via electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer for potential application in electronic paper technology. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.