Effect of surface stabilization of nanoparticles on luminescent characteristics in ZnO/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanohybrid films

Highly transparent and stable luminescent ZnO/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanocomposites have been synthesized via a nanoparticle surface modified method. 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TPM) was used as the stabilizing agent in a simple, mild sol-gel route to prepare TPM-modified ZnO nanoparticles. The existence of TPM on the nanoparticle surface effectively promotes the stability of colloidal ZnO nanoparticles and the compatibility between the inorganic nanoparticles and the organic matrix in the solid nanohybrid. The resulting ZnO/PHEMA nanocomposites with TPM-modified nanoparticles have better dispersibility and controllable luminescent properties. The characteristics of TPM-modified and unmodified ZnO nanoparticles have been studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.