Preparation and Characterization of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/ZrO2-TiO2 Optical Film with Wide Band Gap and High Refractive Index

To improve the integrative properties of ZrO2-TiO2 optical film, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/ZrO2-TiO2 film was coated on the K9 glass substrate by Sol-Gel method using ZrOCl2·8H2O and Ti(OBu)4 as precursor of Zr and Ti, respectively. Using PVDF as organic additive, PVDF/ZrO2-TiO2 optical films were characterized by SEM, FT-IR and contact angle. Then the optical properties of the PVDF/ZrO2-TiO2 optical films were investigated via Ultraviolet/Visible/Near Infrared transmission spectrum, optical band gap (Eg) and refractive index. SEM images indicate that the optical films are successfully prepared on the glass substrates. The addition of PVDF in the optical films increases the contact angle between water and the films. Eg of ZrO2-TiO2 optical films slightly widened with the increasing of ZrO2 content, and Eg of PVDF/ZrO2(50mol%)-TiO2 films are widened as the mass fraction of PVDF increases. In addition, refractive indexes of ZrO2-TiO2 optical films increase as the mole fraction of ZrO2 decreases, and refractive indexes of PVDF/ZrO2(50mol%)-TiO2 films increase as the mass fraction of PVDF increases. Therefore, PVDF/ZrO2-TiO2 optical films will have a promising application in the laser system.