UV-shielding transparent PMMA/In2O3 nanocomposite films based on In2O3 nanoparticles

Abstract

Self supporting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/In₂O₃ with varying In₂O₃ content (1, 2, 5 and 10 wt% In₂O₃ loading) nanocomposite films have been prepared by solvent-casting and spin casting techniques. The nanocomposite films have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the results confirm the incorporation of In₂O₃ nanoparticles in the PMMA matrix. The thermal properties of the nanocomposite films have been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the degradation of the polymer occurs at higher temperature in the presence of In₂O₃ nanoparticles and even a small amount of In₂O₃ nanoparticles (∼1 wt%) can greatly improve the thermal stability of PMMA. The UV-visible spectra of the nanocomposite films show that the films are UV-absorbing, and highly transparent in the visible region.