Abstract
Luminescent and UV-shielding bio-polymers have seldom been reported. Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQD) (~3.2 nm) was synthesized by a short-term sol-gel method. ZnOQD possessed a crystal lattice spacing of 0.28 nm and a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Luminescent and UV-shielding ZnOQD/carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) nanocomposite polymer films were successfully fabricated by incorporating ZnOQD into a CMC matrix through a solution casting method. Thermal analysis demonstrated that the ZnOQD reduce the thermal decomposition rate of CMC, and a large number of ZnOQD can promote the catalytic degradation of ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposites. Furthermore, ZnOQD/CMC hybrid polymer films exhibited photoluminescence with maximum emission wavelength at 525 nm. More significantly, ZnOQD/CMC showed prominent UV-absorbing capability. Such ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposite polymer films are promising in UV-shielding and optical applications.
Highlights
Many composites have been reported and have aroused current interest [1,2]
To obtain Carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC)-based luminescent polymer hybrid films, Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQD)/CMC nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a green simple procedure
Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectra of ZnOQDs and ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposites were recorded on a GENESYS 10 UV-vis spectrometer (Beijing, China) and fluorescence F-4600 fluorescence spectro-photometer (Hitachi, Japan), respectively
Summary
Many composites have been reported and have aroused current interest [1,2]. Carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) as a biopolymer has high optical transparency, good chemical resistance and film forming properties. Luminescent and UV-shielding CMC-matrix nanocomposites have seldom been reported. ZnO quantum dots (ZnOQD) with a wide band gap of 3.37 eV and a rather large exciton binding energy of 60 meV exhibit unique optical and electrical properties [11] due to the quantum confinement effect [12,13]. To obtain CMC-based luminescent polymer hybrid films, ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a green simple procedure. This work broadened the applications of biopolymers in UV-shielding [17] and within the optical field.
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