Facile synthesis of a rose-like BiOCl assembled from nanosheets and its thermal-property application in polymers

Abstract

Rose-like bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) assembled from nanosheets has been successfully synthesized by a facile method at room temperature. The rose-like BiOCl is then introduced into poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via in situ polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate the rose-like BiOCl is exfoliated into individual nanosheets during polymerization process, and the nanosheets are homogenously distributed in the matrix. The as-fabricated PMMA/rose-like BiOCl nanocomposites exhibit remarkably enhanced thermal property including increased glass transition temperature (Tg) and onset thermal degradation temperatures, which are attributed to the barrier effect and excellent thermal insulating property of BiOCl nanosheets, and strong hydrogen bonding between BiOCl nanosheets and matrix. This work demonstrates the potential application of rose-like BiOCl for enhancing thermal property of polymers.