In Situ Ultraviolet Polymerization Using Upconversion Nanoparticles: Nanocomposite Structures Patterned by Near
Hongsub Jee1, Guanying Chen2, Paras N Prasad3
1College of Information and Communication Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 21, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a novel nanocomposite using UV-polymerizable materials and upconverting nanoparticles for efficient light conversion. The resulting materials offer enhanced stability and patterned structures for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Existing near-infrared (NIR) organic photo-initiators lack stability under harsh conditions.
- Upconversion nanoparticles offer a stable alternative for light-initiated polymerization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable nanocomposite using UV-polymerizable organic material and NaYbF4:Tm3+ upconversion nanoparticles (NPs).
- To optimize NPs for efficient NIR-to-UV/blue light conversion.
- To demonstrate patterned nanocomposite fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Polymerization of nanocomposites containing UV-polymerizable organic material and NaYbF4:Tm3+ core-based NPs.
- Utilizing a core-shell design for NPs to enhance binding with organic constituents.
- Fabricating patterned structures via 980 nm laser diode irradiation through a photomask.
Main Results:
- Prepared photopolymerized transparent polymer nanocomposites exhibit upconversion photoluminescence across UV, visible, and NIR ranges.
- Nanoparticles demonstrate superior stability compared to traditional organic photo-initiators.
- Successful fabrication of millimeter/submillimeter sized patterned nanocomposite structures was achieved.
Conclusions:
- The developed approach enables stable and efficient nanocomposite polymerization using upconversion nanoparticles.
- Core-shell nanoparticle design facilitates organic-inorganic integration while preserving upconversion properties.
- This method allows for the creation of precisely patterned nanocomposite structures for potential applications.
