Luminescence of Eu3+ ions in hybrid polymer-inorganic composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and zirconia nanoparticles

Spherical nanoparticles of ZrO₂ with 2 and 10 mol% EuO_1.5 up to 20 nm size were prepared by the method of hydrothermal synthesis for luminescent functionalization of the polymer-inorganic nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate). Surface modification of oxide nanoparticles was carried out by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, dimethoxymethylvinyl silane and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to provide uniform distribution and to prevent agglomeration of nanosized filler in the polymer matrix. Polymer-inorganic composites were synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization in bulk. Structuring of ZrO₂ -EuO_1.5 nanoparticles in the poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied by very-small-angle neutron scattering. According to the results, the dependence of photoluminescent properties of ZrO₂ -EuO_1.5 nanoparticles on the content of lanthanide, the symmetry of the crystal field, surface treatment and the polymer matrix were established. A correlation was shown between Stark splitting in luminescence spectra of ZrO₂ -EuO_1.5 nanoparticles and their phase composition. Using MMT-assay it was shown that composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and ZrO₂ -EuO_1.5 nanoparticles do not have cytotoxic properties, which makes it possible to use them as prosthesis materials with contrasted and luminescent imaging properties.

Structure of Composite Based on Polyheteroarylene Matrix and ZrO₂ Nanostars Investigated by Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping

It is known that structure of the interface between inorganic nanoparticles and polymers significantly influences properties of a polymer⁻inorganic composite. At the same time, amount of experimental researches on the structure and properties of material near the inorganic-polymer interface is low. In this work, we report for the first time the investigation of nanomechanical properties and maps of adhesion of material near the inorganic-polymer interface for the polyheteroarylene nanocomposites based on semi-crystalline poly[4,4'-bis (4″-aminophenoxy)diphenyl]imide 1,3-bis (3',4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene, modified by ZrO₂ nanostars. Experiments were conducted using quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM) mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the surface areas where holes were formed after falling out of inorganic particles. It was found that adhesion of AFM cantilever to the polymer surface is higher inside the hole than outside. This can be attributed to the presence of polar groups near ZrO₂ nanoparticle. QNM measurements revealed that polymer matrix has increased rigidity in the vicinity of the nanoparticles. Influence of ZrO₂ nanoparticles on the structure and thermal properties of semi-crystalline polyheteroarylene matrix was studied with wide-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry.

Structure and Transport Properties of Mixed-Matrix Membranes Based on Polyimides with ZrO₂ Nanostars

Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous and semi-crystalline polyimides with zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) nanostars were synthesized. Amorphous poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) and semi-crystalline polyimide prepared from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene and 4,4’-oxydiphthalic anhydride were used. The effect of ZrO₂ nanostars on the structure and morphology of nanocomposite membranes was studied by wide-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements. Thermal properties and stability were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Transport properties of hybrid membranes containing 5 wt % ZrO₂ were tested for pervaporation of a mixture of butanol–water with 10 wt % H₂O content. It was found that a significant amount of the ZrO₂ added to the semi-crystalline polyimide is encapsulated inside spherulites. Therefore, the beneficial influence of inorganic filler on the selectivity of mixed-matrix membrane with respect to water was hampered. Mixed-matrix membranes based on amorphous polymer demonstrated the best performance, because water molecules had higher access to inorganic particles.