Photoluminescent ZnO nanoparticles modified by polymers

Photoluminescent ZnO nanoparticles, due to nontoxicity and cheapness, are promising materials applied in UV laser devices and biological labels. ZnO photoluminescence is usually composed of two parts: UV emission arising from the typical band gap transition and visible emission due to the oxygen vacancies. In order to protect ZnO nanoparticles and improve their optical properties, polymers are mixed with ZnO or modified on ZnO surfaces to produce various nanocomposites. In the meantime, some new luminescent phenomena are found when polymers and ZnO nanoparticles together participate in the luminescent process. This review will focus on the synthetic methods, structural features and photoluminescent properties of the polymer-ZnO nanocomposites.