Hydrothermal Preparation of TiO₂/Graphite Nanosheets Composites and Its Effect on Electrothermal Behavior

Nowadays, carbon materials are supposed to replace the resistance wire made of metal alloy to be the next generation of heat-generating materials due to their excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. In this study, TiO₂/graphite nanosheets (GNs) composite was prepared by chemical exfoliation and hydrothermal methods. XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectra confirm TiO₂ particles are on the surface of GNs. SEM photographs show TiO₂ nanoparticles covering the surface of the GNs uniformly. We used TiO₂/GNs and sodium silicate to produce the electrothermal film coated on the glass. As compared to raw GNs, the heating rate and maximum temperature have greatly improved. In order to find the reasons for the improvement, the BET and zeta potential of TiO₂/GNs were tested, and we found that the enhancement of the surface area and the dispersion to the composite by TiO₂ particles and sodium silicate make the distribution of GNs more uniform.