The IR spectrum of raw TiO2 spheres (black line) exhibits a feature typical of a carboxylate group bonded to a Ti atom at 1528 and 1442 cm-1 and CH stretching (2934 cm-1 for CH2; 2873 and 2960 cm-1 forCH3), indicating that a layer of carboxylate groups with long carbonchainssurroundstheTiO2 spheres.