Transparent Bulk-Size Nanocomposites With High Inorganic Loading

Abstract

With relatively high nanoparticle loading in polymer matrices, hybrid nanocomposites made by colloidal dispersion routes suffer from severe inhomogeneous agglomeration, a phenomenon that deteriorates light transmission even when the refractive indices of the inorganic and organic phases are closely matched. The dispersion of particles in a matrix is of paramount importance to obtain composites of high optical quality. Here, we describe an innovative, yet straightforward method to fabricate monolithic transparent hybrid nanocomposites with very high particle loading and high refractive index mismatch tolerance between the inorganic and organic constituents. We demonstrate 77% transmission at 800 nm in a 2 mm-thick acrylate polymer nanocomposite containing 61 vol. % CaF2 nanoparticles. Modeling shows that similar performance could easily be obtained with various inorganic phases relevant to a number of photonic applications.

Publication Date

12-14-2015

Publication Title

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

107

Issue

24

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4938001

Socpus ID

84950335842 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84950335842

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