Surface-Modified TiO(2)@SiO(2) Nanocomposites for Enhanced Dispersibility and Optical Performance to Apply in the Printing Process as a Pigment

[Image: see text] The grafted modification TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite was fabricated by a liquid-phase deposition method with Na(2)SiO(3) and a grafting reaction with a silane coupling agent. First, the TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite was prepared, and the effect of deposition rate and silica content on the morphology, particle size, dispersibility, and pigmentary property of TiO(2)@SiO(2) composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ζ-potential. The islandlike TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite had a good particle size and printing performance compared with the dense TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite. The presence of Si was confirmed by EDX elemental analysis and XPS, and a peak at 980 cm(–1) belonging to Si–O was observed in the FTIR spectrum, confirming the presence of SiO(2) anchored at TiO(2) surfaces via Si–O–Ti bonds. Then, the islandlike TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite was modified by grafting with a silane coupling agent. The effect of the silane coupling agent on the hydrophobicity and dispersibility was investigated. The peaks at 2919 and 2846 cm(–1) belong to CH(2) in the FTIR spectrum, and Si–C in the XPS confirmed the grafting of silane coupling agent to the TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite. The grafted modification of the islandlike TiO(2)@SiO(2) composite using 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine endowed it with weather durability, dispersibility, and good printing performance.