Optoelectronic Behaviours of UV shielding Calcium ZirconateReinforced Polycarbonate Nanocomposite Films: An Optical View

Self supporting and design flexible (Calcium zirconate/Poly carbonate) nano composite films were fabricated with varying amounts of CaZrO3 nano fillers by solution casting under controlled temperatures. The as developed films were structurally characterized by Powder X-ray Diffraction (P-XRD) studies that validate the presence of inorganic nano fillers in the host polymer. The UV-visible transmittance studies narrate excellent UV(200-400 nm) harvesting abilities of composite films in conjunction with a near complete visible transmittance. The excellent UV filtering abilities of nanocomposite hybrids were also assessed through kinetic studies of UV induced photo catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. The linear decrease in optical band and appreciable increase in refractive index also ascertains successful composite preparation with near uniform filler dispersions. The CaZrO(3)nano filler reinforced hydrophobic polycarbonates, that are visibly transparent and UV shielding are highly desirable optical materials for high energy UV sensing and filtering applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.