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Surface Modification of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles with TEOS to Prepare Transparent ZrO₂@SiO₂-PDMS Nanocomposite Films with Adjustable Refractive Indices.

ABSTRACT: Here, highly transparent nanocomposite films with an adjustable refractive index were fabricated through stable dispersion of ZrO₂ (n = 2.16) nanoparticles (NPs) subjected to surface modification with SiO₂ (n = 1.46) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (n = 1.42) using the Stöber method. ZrO₂ NPs (13.7 nm) were synthesized using conventional hydrothermal synthesis, and their surface modification with SiO₂ (ZrO₂@SiO₂ NPs) was controlled by varying the reaction time (3-54 h). The surface modification of the NPs was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and ellipsometry. The surface modification was monitored, and the effective layer thickness of SiO₂ varied from 0.1 nm to 4.2 nm. The effective refractive index of the ZrO₂@SiO₂ NPs at λ = 633 nm was gradually reduced from 2.16 to 1.63. The 100 nm nanocomposite film was prepared by spin-coating the dispersion of ZrO₂@SiO₂ NPs in PDMS on the coverslip. The nanocomposite film prepared using ZrO₂@SiO₂ NPs with a reaction time of 18 h (ZrO₂@SiO₂-18h-PDMS) exhibited excellent optical transparency (T_average = 91.1%), close to the transparency of the coverslip (T_average = 91.4%) in the visible range, and an adjustable refractive index (n = 1.42-1.60) as the NP content in the film increased from 0 to 50.0 wt%.

SUBMITTER: Cho H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9320452 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundTunic is a cellulosic, integumentary matrix found in tunicates (Subphylum Tunicata or Urochordata). The tunics of some ascidian species and pelagic tunicates, such as salps, are nearly transparent, which is useful in predator avoidance. Transparent materials can be detected visually using light reflected from their surfaces, with the different refractive indices between two media, i.e., tunic and seawater, being the measure of reflectance. A larger difference in refractive indices thus provides a larger measure of reflectance.ResultsWe measured the refractive indices of the transparent tunic of Thetys vagina (salp: Thaliacea) and Rhopalaea sp. (ascidian: Ascidiacea) using an Abbe refractometer and an ellipsometer to estimate the light reflection at the tunic surface and evaluate the anti-reflection effect of the nipple array structure on the tunic surface of T. vagina. At D-line light (??=?589 nm), the refractive indices of the tunics were 0.002-0.004 greater than seawater in the measurements by Abbe refractometer, and 0.02-0.03 greater than seawater in the measurements by ellipsometer. The refractive indices of tunics were slightly higher than that of seawater. According to the simulation of light reflection based on rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA), light at a large angle of incidence will be completely reflected from a surface when its refractive indices are smaller than seawater. Therefore, the refractive index of integument is important for enabling transparent organisms to remain invisible in the water column.ConclusionIn order to minimize reflectance, the refractive index should be similar to, but never smaller than, that of the surrounding seawater. The simulation also indicated that the presence or absence of a nipple array does not cause significant difference in reflectance on the surface. The nipple array on the tunic of the diurnal salp may have another function, such as bubble repellence, other than anti-reflection.

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Surface Modification of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles with TEOS to Prepare Transparent ZrO₂@SiO₂-PDMS Nanocomposite Films with Adjustable Refractive Indices.

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Surface Modification of ZrO2 Nanoparticles with TEOS to Prepare Transparent ZrO2@SiO2-PDMS Nanocomposite Films with Adjustable Refractive Indices.

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Surface Modification of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles with TEOS to Prepare Transparent ZrO₂@SiO₂-PDMS Nanocomposite Films with Adjustable Refractive Indices.