Hostname: page-component-669899f699-7xsfk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-27T00:51:21.070Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Synthesis and Characterization of Tunable and Highly Transparent Thick Layers of Nanocomposites Based on Methacrylates and Silica Nanoparticles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Giuseppina Simone ,
Gerardo Perozziello ,
Vincenzo Tagliaferri  and
Nicolas Szita
Giuseppina Simone
Affiliation:
Technical University of Denmark, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Ørsteds Plads, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
Gerardo Perozziello
Affiliation:
[email protected], Technical University of Denmark, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Ørsteds Plads, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
Vincenzo Tagliaferri
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rome, 00173, Italy
Nicolas Szita
Affiliation:
[email protected], Technical University of Denmark, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Ørsteds Plads, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
Get access

Abstract

We present a nanocomposite material based on functionalized silica nanoparticles in a methacrylate matrix. The nanocomposite material is synthesized without addition of a co-solvent, which enables the spin-coating of thick and defect-free layers of several tens of micrometers with smooth surfaces. SEM analysis indicates uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the methacrylate matrix, and pinhole-free surfaces suitable for applications in optics. For optical characterization, the refractive index of the material for different silica concentrations is reported, and propagation losses in the UV/VIS range discussed. The tuning of the refractive indices can be applied towards the realization of low-loss passive optical waveguides. As a first step towards this goal, the processibility of the nanocomposite material for microfluidic applications, and the realization of a planar optical waveguide are demonstrated.

Keywords

compositeoptical propertiesnanoscale
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 951: Symposium E – Nanofunctional Materials, Nanostructures and Novel Devices for Biological and Chemical Detection , 2006 , 0951-E03-23
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

1. Broutman, L.J., Krock, R.H., Plueddemann, E.P., Composite Materials, Vol.6, Interface in Polymer Matrix Composites (Academic Press Inc., New York, 1974), p. 3–40 Google Scholar
2. Shonaike, G.O. and Advani, S.G., Advanced Polymeric Materials: Structure Property Relationships, (CRC Press LLC, 2003), Chapter 12Google Scholar
3. Novak, B.M., Adv. Mater., 5 (6), 422, (1993)Google Scholar
4. Yoshida, M. and Prasad, P.N., Chem. Mater., 8, 235, (1996)Google Scholar
5. Sanchez, C., Lebeau, B., Chaput, F., Boilot, J.P., Adv. Mater., 15 (23), 1969, (2003)Google Scholar
6. Yu, Y.-Y., Chen, C.-Y., Chen, W.-C., Polymer, 44, 593, (2003)Google Scholar
7. Zhang, X., Haswell, S.J., MRS Bulletin, 31, 95 (2006)Google Scholar
8. Snakenborg, D., Perozziello, G., Klank, H., Geschke, O., JP. Kutter, J. Micromech. Microeng., 16, 375, (2006)Google Scholar
9. Iler, R.K., The Chemistry of Silica, (Wiley, 1979) p. 8 Google Scholar