We report on ZnO nanoparticles-polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites (NC) engineered to modify PS matrix permeability and refractive index (n), and to fabricate 1D all-polymer photonic crystals (PC) for sensing applications. The new NC can be easily processed from solutions to prepare high quality thin films by spin coating. ZnO nanoparticles (n = 1.98) have been synthetized by solvothermal route and grafted with a silane to reduce phase segregation in the PS matrix (n = 1.58). Such procedure led to an increase of the matrix refractive index of about 1%. By casting alternated layers of the NC and cellulose acetate (CA, n = 1.46), we fabricated free-standing and flexible distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) of excellent optical quality. Preliminary results on the use of such DBRs as solvent vapor sensors are reported.
Hybrid ZnO:polystyrene nanocomposite for all-polymer photonic crystals
URBINATI, GIULIAMembro del Collaboration Group
;LOSCO, TONIAMembro del Collaboration Group
;Franco MarabelliMembro del Collaboration Group
;
2015-01-01
Abstract
We report on ZnO nanoparticles-polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites (NC) engineered to modify PS matrix permeability and refractive index (n), and to fabricate 1D all-polymer photonic crystals (PC) for sensing applications. The new NC can be easily processed from solutions to prepare high quality thin films by spin coating. ZnO nanoparticles (n = 1.98) have been synthetized by solvothermal route and grafted with a silane to reduce phase segregation in the PS matrix (n = 1.58). Such procedure led to an increase of the matrix refractive index of about 1%. By casting alternated layers of the NC and cellulose acetate (CA, n = 1.46), we fabricated free-standing and flexible distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) of excellent optical quality. Preliminary results on the use of such DBRs as solvent vapor sensors are reported.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
