Abstract
Polymer nanocomposites incorporating silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in situ photogenerated and/or premade ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were prepared through photopolymerization of some acrylate monomers. The photobehavior of the mixtures of monomers-inorganic components subjected to UV irradiation was evaluated through FTIR spectrometry, and the results showed that the conversion degree (DC) is slowly affected by the presence of the inorganic phase, decreasing from 86.7% for S0 (without nanoparticles) to 78.3% for the composites with Ag and/or ZnO NPs. The formation of hybrid materials with such NPs was confirmed through specific analyses (FTIR, UV–Vis, EDX, XRD). Morphological investigations (AFM, SEM) of the nanocomposites proved the presence of spherical-shaped particles in the polymeric matrix and an increase in the heterogeneity of the sample surfaces. TEM analysis allows the size estimation of the inorganic nanoparticles, the diameter being in the range of 1–30 nm. The catalytic activity was tested for the photodegradation of Nile red (NR) in ambient conditions and under UV irradiation, following the decrease in the UV–Vis absorption/fluorescence bands characteristic to NR as a function of irradiation time. A better efficiency in the photodegradation of NR by the hybrid composite film with ZnO/Ag NPs (98% photolysis after 600 s of irradiation) has been confirmed.
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