Fibers filled with titanium (IV) chloride (TiCl4) were fabricated by a method of encapsulation in which degradable porous poly (lactic acid) (PLA) polymer fibers were loaded with TiCl4 and then subsequently closed by solvent treatment. In our method of encapsulation an electrospinning apparatus was utilized to form these porous fibers of high molecular weight polylactic acid. These porous fibers were exposed to titanium (IV) chloride to introduce the metal oxide precursor into the pores and subsequently sealed with toluene.; In addition to the incorporation of titanium (IV) chloride in the pores of PLA fibers, microcapsules of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) filled with TiCl 4 were also studied. The fabrication of the capsules was adapted from a method of encapsulation in which polymer shells with controllable holes in their surface are produced, loaded with TiCl4, and then subsequently closed by either annealing or solvent treatment. The fabrication of these encapsulations exhibits self-healing capabilities and may find potential applications in multilayer permeation barriers. The fibers and capsules synthesized were characterized with SEM, Raman, UV-Vis, XRD, and EDX.
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