Composite film polarizer based on the oriented assembly of electrospun nanofibers

Polarizers are widely applied in antiglare glasses, planner displays, photography filters and optical communications, etc. In this investigation, we propose a new strategy for the preparation of a flexible film polarizer based on the electrospinning technique. An aligned assembly of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) nanofibers was electrospun and collected by a fast-rotating drum, then soaked in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solution and dried thoroughly to obtain a transparent PVA-PMMA composite film polarizer. The morphology, structure and optical performance of the PVA nanofibers and the film polarizers were characterized with a scanning electron microscope, UV-vis-IR spectrometer and polarized Raman spectra, etc. The PVA-PMMA film polarizer demonstrated efficient polarizing activity toward visible and near-infrared light, while keeping fair transparency in the range of 400-1400 nm. Due to the protection from the hydrophobic PMMA matrix, the PVA-PMMA film polarizers show high moisture resistance, making it applicable in a humid environment. Considering the scalability and versatility of the strategy employed here, the PVA-PMMA film polarizer prepared could replace the conventional film polarizers in a wide range of applications.