Covalent Binding of CdSe@PMMA Nanocomposite Films with both Good Transparency and UV-Shielding

Thin UV-blocking films of poly(methyl methacrylate) and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) (CdSe@PMMA) are built up by CdSe-azo initiator through surface-initiated free-radical polymerization. CdSe@PMMA nanocomposite film possesses excellent transparency and ultraviolet (UV)-shielding properties. The average size of CdSe QDs is found to be less than 5 nm and well dispersed in the PMMA matrices without any significant agglomeration by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement. At the same time, excellent fluorescence (FL) spectra of the nanocomposite indicate that the luminescent properties of CdSe QDs remain effective after the polymerization. Such the transparent and luminescence CdSe@PMMA nanocomposite film exhibits prominent UV-absorbing capability and the high optical transparency in the visible-wavelength region, thus make it to be a promising material for the large scale fabrication of diverse optical devices.