A combinatorial approach for the synthesis and characterization of polymer/vanadium oxide nanocomposites

Vanadium pentoxide xerogels were prepared by the hydrolysis of VO(OC3H7)(3) by tbe sol-gel process. The generation of V2O5 was optimized by a combinat orial approach incorporating rapid screening by Raman spectroscopy. The lat ter revealed crystallites of vanadium oxide. Subsequently poly(p-ethylpheno l) (PEP)/V2O5 nanocomposites were prepared by the sol-gel process at the op timized molar ratio of VO(OC3H7)(3)/H2O/acetone = 1/45/300. Evidence from R aman spectra indicated that the presence of PEP did not interfere in the fo rmation of crystalline V2O5 in the composites. FTIR also exhibited interact ion between PEP and V2O5. TEM showed a fibrous V2O5 structure dispersed in the PEP matrix.