Transparent polymeric hybrid film of ZnO nanoparticle quantum dots and PMMA with high luminescence and tunable emission color.

ZnO nanoparticle quantum dots (QDs)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites are synthesized by conventional radical polymerization in the presence of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate (TPM)-modified ZnO nanoparticle QDs. Although unmodified ZnO nanoparticle QDs were precipitated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and show only weak emissions under UV irradiation, ZnO nanoparticle QDs/PMMA composite is well dispersed in THF and shows high emissions. TPM acts as the stabilizer and promotes the compatibility between the ZnO nanoparticle QDs and the PMMA matrix. After evaporation of THF from the ZnO nanoparticle QDs/PMMA composite solution, transparent polymeric hybrid films of ZnO nanoparticle QDs and PMMA are obtained. These polymeric hybrid films are characterized by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis. The hybrid film exhibited a high quantum yield and PL emission under ultraviolet excitation. PL emission has been successfully tuned from blue to yellow.