Synthesis and optical properties of ZrO_2 with incorporated Ti nanoparticle/polymer hybrid

摘要

Transparent ZrO_2 with incorporated Ti nanoparticle/polymer hybrids were synthesized from zirconium methacrylate and titanyl acetylacetonate via hydrolysis and polymerization in 2-methoxymethanol. The formation of the polymer matrix was confirmed by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that the crystalline ZrO_2 with incorporated Ti nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The absorption edge of a thin film of the undoped ZrO_2 nanoparticle/polymer hybrid was blueshifted when compared to that of bulk ZrO_2, whereas that of the ZrO_2 with incorporated Ti nanoparticle/polymer hybrid exhibited a bathochromic shift of the absorption edge to a wavelength of 310 nm. The refractive indices of the hybrid films formed on Si substrates were dependent on the Ti concentration in the ZrO_2 nanoparticles, and increased with an increase in the Ti content. On the other hand, the Abbe number of the ZrO_2 with incorporated 20 mol% Ti-based hybrid system was the highest. The thin film of the ZrO_2 with incorporated 50 mol% Ti nanoparticle/polymer hybrid had a refractive index of 1.603 at 589 nm.