Fabrication and characterization of mesoporous TiO2/polypyrrole-based nanocomposite for electrorheological fluid

Mesoporous TiO2/polypyrrole (PPy)-based nanocomposite for electrorheological fluid was synthesized through one-pot method. By exploiting the combination conductivity of PPy and high dielectric constant of TiO2, the ER fluid exhibited an enhanced effect. The shear stress was 3.3 times as high as that of mesoporous TiO2. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as-made samples. Using a modified rotational viscometer, the electrorheological effect was measured. Dielectric spectra were also given to explain the mechanism. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.