Abstract: In an aspect, a method of making a composite comprises mixing titanium dioxide in a aqueous solution comprising an acid to form a titanium dioxide mixture; mixing an aniline monomer and an oxidizing agent with the titanium dioxide mixture to form a reaction mixture; and polymerizing the aniline monomer to form the composite comprising polyaniline and the titanium dioxide; wherein the titanium dioxide has an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 nm; and wherein the acid is free of a (C8+ alkyl) benzene sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof. In another aspect, a composite comprises a plurality of titanium dioxide having an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 nm; a polyaniline; at least one of hydrochloric acid or 2-acryamido-2-propanesulfonic acid or a derivative thereof; wherein the composite is free of a (C8+ alkyl) benzene sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: In an aspect, a method of making a composite comprises mixing titanium dioxide in a aqueous solution comprising an acid to form a titanium dioxide mixture; mixing an aniline monomer and an oxidizing agent with the titanium dioxide mixture to form a reaction mixture; and polymerizing the aniline monomer to form the composite comprising polyaniline and the titanium dioxide; wherein the titanium dioxide has an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 nm; and wherein the acid is free of a (C8+ alkyl) benzene sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof. In another aspect, a composite comprises a plurality of titanium dioxide having an average particle size of 0.5 to 100 nm; a polyaniline; at least one of hydrochloric acid or 2-acryamido-2-propanesulfonic acid or a derivative thereof; wherein the composite is free of a (C8+ alkyl) benzene sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A biomimetic approach utilizing biomolecular self-assembly is described to form nanometer particle size composites for uses, such as, nonlinear optical media. Yeast tRNA was utilized as an ion-exchange/nucleation site within a polymeric matrix (polyacrylamide). Cadmium ion-exchange and subsequent sulfide precipitation resulted in formation of nanometer particle size composites. Illumination of samples with an Argon laster (514 nm) utilizing the Z-scan measurement method resulted in third order nonlinearity &khgr;3 values of +2.7×10−6 esu.

Abstract: A biomimetic approach utilizing biomolecular self-assembly is described to form nanometer particle size composites for uses, such as, nonlinear optical media. Yeast tRNA was utilized as an ion-exchange/nucleation site within a polymeric matrix (polyacrylamide). Cadmium ion-exchange and subsequent sulfide precipitation resulted in formation of nanometer particle size composites. Illumination of samples with an Argon laster (514 nm) utilizing the Z-scan measurement method resulted in third order nonlinearity .chi..sup.3 values of +2.7.times.10.sup.-6 esu.