Polymer-oxide composites: toward new optical materials

Brief summary concerning properties of the polymer matrix incorporated with inorganic, e.g. oxide particles, micro/nanocomposites and opportunity to use these composites as optical materials for modern optics and optoelectronic devices is presented in the work. Structure and morphology of the several sets of the new polymer micro/nanocomposites based on the microcrystalline cellulose incorporated with micro/nanoparticle of various oxides (NaNO₂, La_{1-x}Sm_{x}VO₄, La_{1-x}Eu_{x}VO₄ and K₂Eu(PO₄)(MoO₄)), were prepared by "dry" and "wet" cool pressing procedure. Morphology of these composites was described as ensemble of cellulose plates and located gains of the oxide particles. Temperature dependences of complex dielectric permittivity and luminescence properties of the composites were studied. Temperature and electromagnetic field frequency dependences of the dielectric permittivity revealed influence of oxide particles on the characteristics of the microcrystalline cellulose. Both wide band (matrix emission) and narrow lines (RE ions emission) of visible luminescence (350-750 nm range) of the composites is excited in the range 250-550 nm. The luminescence characteristics displayed effect of cellulose on the electronic system of the Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions and effect of oxide particles on the cellulose matrix was shown, too. Spectral characteristics and high intensity of luminescence showed perspectives of studied composites to be used as light converters in LED and elsewhere as optics luminescent materials.