Fabrication of High Refractive- index Nanoparticle based Transparent Nanocomposites and Optical Components, and Application in Chemical sensing
Hanjun Cho
충남대학교 화학과
The refractive index adjusting technology, which effectively controls optical paths to enable the efficient utilization of optical energy, is actively employed for performance and efficiency enhancement in photonics applications such as displays, solar cells, and optical communications. In this study, we fabricated transparent nanocomposite film with a high refractive index by dispersing high refractive index ZrO2 nanoparticles (n=2.16) within a polymer matrix to enhance the refractive index. ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized through a sol- gel reaction using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) for surface modification to improve dispersion stability. Optimization was achieved by controlling the reaction time to balance enhanced dispersion stability with reduced effective refractive index. Subsequently, stable dispersion within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (n=1.42) resulted in a transparent nanocomposite film with over 91% transmittance and a refractive index enhancement of 0.15. To explore potential applications of the fabricated film, we conducted a literature review of previous research involving photonic nanocomposites utilizing metal oxide nanostructures. Building upon this research, we fabricated flexible and attachable optical components with one- dimensional photonic crystal structures using transparent high refractive index nanocomposites. Furthermore, we conducted a study on the application of these optical components as chemical gas sensors, making use of gas permeability within the nanocomposite and the swelling behavior of PDMS. Exposure to gases led to interference phenomena, resulting in color changes, and allowing for visual detection. This paper demonstrates the practical applicability of sensors utilizing optical properties and fluid dynamics of high refractive index transparent nanocomposites, potentially coexisting with camera technology in real life.
Keywords : High refractive index, ZrO2, Nanocomposite, Distributed Bragg reflector(DBR), Chemical sensing