Transparent poly(methyl methacrylate)/ZnO nanocomposites based on KH570 surface modified ZnO quantum dots

Transparent luminescent ZnO embedded PMMA polymer has been synthesized by means of grafting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) onto the surface of ZnO QDs after g-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (KH570) modification. The resulting ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites with KH570-modified nanoparticles have better dispersibility and preserve the superior luminescence of ZnO nanoparticles in the nanocomposites. The obtained PMMA/ZnO nanocomposite films show high transparency, high UV-shielding efficiency and improved thermal stability. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy.