Browsing by Subject "Nanocomposite films"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Open Access
Broadband optical transparency in plasmonic nanocomposite polymer films via exciton-plasmon energy transfer
(OSA - The Optical Society, 2016) Dhama R.; Rashed, A. R.; Caligiuri V.; El Kabbash M.; Strangi, G.; De Luca A.
Inherent absorptive losses affect the performance of all plasmonic devices, limiting their fascinating applications in the visible range. Here, we report on the enhanced optical transparency obtained as a result of the broadband mitigation of optical losses in nanocomposite polymeric films, embedding core-shell quantum dots (CdSe@ZnS QDs) and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Exciton-plasmon coupling enables non-radiative energy transfer processes from QDs to metal NPs, resulting in gain induced transparency of the hybrid flexible systems. Experimental evidences, such as fluorescence quenching and modifications of fluorescence lifetimes confirm the presence of this strong coupling between plexcitonic elements. Measures performed by means of an ultra-fast broadband pump-probe setup demonstrate loss compensation of gold NPs dispersed in plastic network in presence of gain. Furthermore, we compare two films containing different concentrations of gold NPs and same amount of QDs, to investigate the role of acceptor concentration (Au-NPs) in order to promote an effective and efficient energy transfer mechanism. Gain induced transparency in bulk systems represents a promising path towards the realization of loss compensated plasmonic devices. © 2016 Optical Society of America.
Open Access
Compound Hertzian chain model for copper-carbon nanocomposites' absorption spectrum
(2011) Kokabi, A.; Hosseini, M.; Saeedi, S.; Moftakharzadeh, A.; Vesaghi, M.A.; Fardmanesh, M.
The infrared range optical absorption mechanism of carbon-copper composite thin layer coated on the diamond-like carbon buffer layer has been investigated. By consideration of weak interactions between copper nanoparticles in their network, optical absorption is modelled using their coherent dipole behaviour induced by the electromagnetic radiation. The copper nanoparticles in the bulk of carbon are assumed as a chain of plasmonic dipoles, which have coupling resonance. Considering nearest neighbour interactions for this metallic nanoparticles, surface plasmon resonance frequency (ω 0) and coupled plasmon resonance frequency (ω 1) have been computed. The damping rate against wavelength is derived, which leads to the derivation of the optical absorption spectrum in terms of ω 0 and ω 1. The dependency of the absorption peaks to the particle size and the particle mean spacing is also investigated. The absorption spectrum is measured for different Cu-C thin films with various Cu particle size and spacing. The experimental results of absorption are compared with the obtained analytical ones. © 2011 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Open Access
Flexible organic-inorganic core-shell nanofibers by electrospinning and atomic layer deposition
(CRC Press, 2012) Kayacı, Fatma; Çağla, Özgit-Akgün; Dönmez, İnci; Bıyıklı, Necmi; Uyar, Tamer
Organic-inorganic core-shell nanofibers were fabricated by combining electrospinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD). In the first step, nylon66 (polymeric organic core) nanofibers having different average fiber diameters (∼100 nm, ∼250 nm and ∼650 nm) were electrospun by using different solvent systems and polymer concentrations. In the second step, uniform and conformal layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) (inorganic shell) with precise thickness (∼90 nm) and composition on the round surface of the nylon nanofibers were deposited by ALD. The core-shell nylon66-ZnO nanofibers have shown unique properties such as structural flexibility due to the polymeric core and photocatalytic activity due to the ZnO shell layer.
Open Access
Nano-structured organically modified silica thin films for functional surfaces
(2011) Bayındır, Mehmet; Yıldırım, Adem; Budunoglu, Hülya; Yaman, Mecit; Deniz, Hakan; Güler, Mustafa O.
We report a template-free sol-gel method for preparation of nanoporous ormosil thin films at ambient conditions. The thin films are coated to the surfaces by using colloidal suspensions of ormosil gels. Gels are synthesized by using a trifunctional organosilane monomer, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), with a two-step acid base reaction. We prepared several ormosil thin films on glass, metal, plastic and paper surfaces with different functionalities like superhydrophobic, antireflective, antifogging and ice retarding properties, from gels prepared in different conditions. Also films on flexible substrates exhibits durable surface properties after several bending cycles. In addition, we also demonstrate that these thin films can be used for fluorescent sensing of explosives by doping them with fluorescent dyes.
Open Access
Photocatalytic hybrid nanocomposites of metal oxide nanoparticles enhanced towards the visible spectral range
(Elsevier, 2011-04-13) Perkgoz, N. K.; Toru, R. S.; Unal, E.; Sefunc, M.A.; Tek, S.; Mutlugun, E.; Soganci, I. M.; Celiker, H.; Celiker, G.; Demir, Hilmi Volkan
We propose and demonstrate photocatalytic hybrid nanocomposites that co-integrate TiO(2) and ZnO nanoparticles in the same host resin to substantially enhance their combined photocatalytic activity in the near-UV and visible spectral ranges, where the intrinsic photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles or that of ZnO nanoparticles is individually considerably weak For a comparative study, by embedding TiO(2) nanoparticles of ca. 6 nm and ZnO nanoparticles of ca. 40 nm in the sol-gel matrix of acrylic resin, we make thin film coatings of TiO(2)-ZnO nanoparticles (combination of TiO2 and ZnO, each with a mass ratio of 8.5%), as well as the composite films of TiO(2) nanoparticles alone (17.0%), and ZnO nanoparticles alone (17.0%), and a negative control group with no nanoparticles. For all of these thin films coated on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polyester, we experimentally study photocatalytic activity and systematically measure spectral degradation (recovery obtained by photocatalytic reactions). This spectral characterization exhibits photodegradation levels of the contaminant at different excitation wavelengths (in the range of 310-469 nm) to distinguish different parts of optical spectrum where TiO(2) and ZnO nanopartides are individually and concurrently active. We observe that the photocatalytic activity is significantly improved towards the visible range with the use of TiO(2)-ZnO combination compared to the individual cases. Particularly for the excitation wavelengths of photochemical reactions longer than 400 nm, where the negative control group and ZnO nanoparticles alone yield no observable photodegradation level and TiO2 nanoparticles alone lead to a low photodegradation level of 14%, the synergic combination of TiO(2)-ZnO nanoparticles achieves a photodegradation level as high as 30%. Investigating their scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), we present evidence of the heterostructure, crystallography, and chemical bonding states for the hybrid TiO(2)-ZnO nanocomposite films, in comparison to the films of only TiO(2) nanoparticles, only ZnO nanoparticles, and no nanoparticles.
Open Access
Preparation of fluorinated methacrylate/clay nanocomposite via in-situ polymerization: characterization, structure, and properties
(John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2016) Karamane, M.; Raihane, M.; Tasdelen, M. A.; Uyar, Tamer; Lahcini, M.; Ilsouk, M.; Yagci Y.
Novel fluorinated coating containing well-dispersed silicate nanolayers is successfully produced via in-situ free radical polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate in the presence of vinylbenzyl-functionalized montmorillonite with different loading. The organic modification of sodium montmorillonite is achieved through an ion exchange reaction with triphenylvinylbenzylphosphonium chloride as surfactant prepared before use by reaction with vinylbenyl chloride and phosphine. The following in-situ polymerization in the presence of organomodified clay leads to fluorinated nanocomposites with of partially exfoliated and intercalated morphologies, as determined via XRD and TEM analysis. The nanoscale dispersion of clay layers is also evidenced by thermal analysis; a moderate decrease of the glass transition temperature about 2–8 °C compared to their virgin PMATRIF and an improvement of their thermal stability as evidenced by TGA. The wettability of the nanocomposite films is also studied by contact angle measurements with water. The incorporation of organomodified clays not only increases the hydrophobicity of the fluorinated polymers but also improves the surface properties of obtained nanocomposites. Compared the virgin homopolymer, the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are reduced by addition of organomodifed clay at temperature from 30 to 60 °C, whereas this trend is gradually decreased at higher temperature.