Red shifted photoluminescent properties of electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers incorporated with green synthesised silver nanoparticles

Electrospun PMMA nanofibers are always a matter of concern for polymer researchers in its pure/modified forms or in combination with other polymeric materials. Here, ultrafine electrospun PMMA nanofibers with significant optical properties are synthesised. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with 5-10 nm size are prepared through micro wave assisted bio-synthesis using Couroupita guianensis (Nagalinga tree) flower extract as reducing agent. The successful incorporation of AgNPs to PMMA nanofibers is proved by different structural and molecular analyses. The influence of SPR of AgNPs on the optical properties of PMMA nanofibers is evidenced with red shift and optical enhancement. The tuning of optical properties of PMMA by incorporating AgNPs proved the host matrix nature of PMMA nanofibers to silver nanoparticles and we believe that the tuning of optical properties of PMMA nanofibers by incorporating AgNPs may be useful in various optical devices like nanophotonic devices. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.