Synthesis of colloidal aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles for transparent luminescent polymer nanocomposite films

Luminescent inorganic phosphors are widely used as wavelength-converting materials in many emerging applications including displays, solar cells, and bioimaging. This study demonstrates the synthesis of highly luminescent colloidal AlOH nanoparticles and the preparation of transparent luminescent AlOH/polymer composites. Colloidal AlOH nanoparticles are synthesized by the thermal decomposition of aluminum acetate hydroxide precursors in octadecene solution. The addition of oleic acid in the reaction mixture enables the control of the size and dispersity of the nanoparticles. As-synthesized nanoparticles are colloidally stable in non-polar solvents and exhibit excellent photoluminescence properties. Highly dispersible colloidal AlOH nanocrystals form stable mixtures with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers. Transmittance and photoluminescence measurements of the AlOH/EVA composite films when varying AlOH loading demonstrate that the transparent and luminescent AlOH/EVA composite films are promising candidates for applications in spectral converters.