<scp>TiO</scp> ₂ ‐Based Nanocomposites of Poly( <scp>TBCH</scp> ‐ <scp>TPA</scp> ) and <scp>CoPoly</scp> ( <scp>TBCH</scp> ‐ <scp>CH</scp> ‐ <scp>TPA</scp> ): Synthesis, Characterization, Electrical Behavior, and Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conducting polymers are an important class of materials that uniquely combine the electrical conductivity of metals with the processability and flexibility of polymers. In this study, a π‐conjugated condensation polymer [Poly(TBCH‐TPA)] and its copolymer [CoPoly(TBCH‐CH‐TPA)] were synthesized via polycondensation. To enhance their functional properties, titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were incorporated into both polymer matrices via an in situ polymerization technique, yielding TiO 2 @Poly(TBCH‐TPA) and TiO 2 @CoPoly(TBCH‐CH‐TPA) nanocomposites. The structural and morphological features of the synthesized materials were characterized using FT‐IR, XRD, SEM, and TGA. Electrical conductivity measurements revealed a significant increase in conductivity upon TiO 2 incorporation, attributed to enhanced interfacial charge transport and morphological ordering. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the polymers and their nanocomposites was evaluated against clinically relevant Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The TiO 2 ‐containing nanocomposites demonstrated markedly improved antimicrobial performance, with TiO 2 @CoPoly(TBCH‐CH‐TPA) exhibiting the most potent activity. The enhancement is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the conducting polymer matrix and the photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species by TiO 2 . Minimum inhibitory concentration values confirmed a substantial reduction in microbial viability, underscoring the broad‐spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of the nanocomposites. The dual enhancement in conductivity and microbial inhibition opens new avenues for designing polymer‐based materials with integrated electrical and biological functionalities.