Abstract
Organicallycoated inorganic nanoparticles were synthesized to produce photoluminescent nanocomposites based on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix. The nanoparticles comprised organic ligands (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA, and 2-picolinic acid, PA) attached to the lanthanum trifluoride (LaF3) host crystals that were doped with optically active terbium III (Tb3+) and synthesized using solution-based methods. The ligands were employed to functionalize the surface of Tb3+:LaF3nanocrystals to aid in dispersing the nanoparticles. In order to confirm the presence of the constituents within the inorganic-organic system, the nanoparticles were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Absorption peaks observed from infrared spectroscopy for all the polymer nanocomposites loaded with organic surface treated nanocrystals exhibited peaks that were not present in undoped PMMA but were characteristic of the dopant and the ligand.
Highlights
IntroductionPolymer optical materials (POMs) in devices (e.g., splitters, couplers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and amplifiers) have been used in integrated lightwave circuits wherein polymer optical fibers and planar waveguides are combined for specific functionalities [1]
Polymer optical materials (POMs) in devices have been used in integrated lightwave circuits wherein polymer optical fibers and planar waveguides are combined for specific functionalities [1]
POM applications range from planar integrated optics [2] to local area networks (LANs) [3] and sensing components for devices used for medical [4], manufacturing [5], and security applications [6]
Summary
Polymer optical materials (POMs) in devices (e.g., splitters, couplers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and amplifiers) have been used in integrated lightwave circuits wherein polymer optical fibers and planar waveguides are combined for specific functionalities [1]. Light-emitting polymer nanocomposites (a subset of POMs) are generally utilized in planar lightwave circuits and in telecommunication applications [1] as well as incoherent light-emitting devices, optical sensors, and photodetectors [7]. In order to create light-emitting polymer nanocomposites, various additives have been employed to change the optical properties of polymers, in particular polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Luminescent species that have the capability of fluorescing and being dopants to overcome attenuation are organic dyes, quantum dots, and rare-earth (RE) ions doped in inorganic nanocrystals [9,10,11,12]. The dopants studied were RE ions doped into inorganic nanocrystals. The dopant produces radiative (photon) and nonradiative emissions (phonon) upon relaxation to a lower lying state or the ground state
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