Luminescent and UV-Shielding ZnO Quantum Dots/Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Nanocomposite Polymer Films

Luminescent and UV-shielding bio-polymers have seldom been reported. Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQD) (~3.2 nm) was synthesized by a short-term sol-gel method. ZnOQD possessed a crystal lattice spacing of 0.28 nm and a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Luminescent and UV-shielding ZnOQD/carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) nanocomposite polymer films were successfully fabricated by incorporating ZnOQD into a CMC matrix through a solution casting method. Thermal analysis demonstrated that the ZnOQD reduce the thermal decomposition rate of CMC, and a large number of ZnOQD can promote the catalytic degradation of ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposites. Furthermore, ZnOQD/CMC hybrid polymer films exhibited photoluminescence with maximum emission wavelength at 525 nm. More significantly, ZnOQD/CMC showed prominent UV-absorbing capability. Such ZnOQD/CMC nanocomposite polymer films are promising in UV-shielding and optical applications.