Highly stabilized luminescent polymer nanocomposites: fluorescence emission from metal quinolate complexes with inorganic nanocrystals

Abstract

Luminescent polymer nanocomposites were prepared from dye containing copolymers and inorganic nanocrystals. As a model material, 8-hydroxyquinoline containing poly(methyl methacrylate) with zirconium oxide nanocrystals (ZrO₂-NCs) was prepared by forming coordination complexes with the surface of the ZrO₂-NCs. Fluorescence emission in the visible light region which was from zirconium quinolate on the ZrO₂-NC surface was observed at room temperature under UV illumination. The ZrO₂-NCs were well dispersed in the polymer matrix with crosslinking on the nanocrystal surfaces. The polymer nanocomposites had high photostability, thermal stability and enhanced mechanical properties compared to those of the neat zirconium complexes. The luminescent stability of the polymer nanocomposites was enhanced due to the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands fixed between inorganic nanocrystals and polymer chains. This new concept, in which the dye was immobilized by an organic/inorganic sandwich structure, was suitable for obtaining highly stabilized luminescent nanocomposite materials.