High refractive index nanocomposite
The current disclosure relates to a nanocomposites coating including metal oxide nanocrystals, the nanocomposites further include a mixture of acrylates monomers and oligomers to provide a curable coating that provides high refractive index, high transmittance, and high temperature stability.
1. A solventless nanocomposite comprising:
an organic mixture comprised of a mixture of benzyl methacrylate (BMA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) monomers and/or oligomers in a weight ratio of BMA to TMPTA of 75:25 to 65:35,
capped nanocrystals, wherein the nanocrystals are selected from the group consisting of ZrO 2 , HfO 2 , TiO 2 and ZnO, and
at least one curing agent or photo initiator, wherein
the caped nanocrystals are present in the nanocomposite in an amount greater than 70% by weight to 90% by weight of the nanocomposite, and wherein
the nanocomposite has a viscosity of less than 12,000 cPs at 20° C. as measured by a Brookfield RVDV-II+PCP cone and plate viscometer, and wherein
the refractive index of the nanocomposite is in a range of 1.6 to 1.9 at a wavelength of 400 nm.
2. The nanocomposite of claim 1 , wherein the nanocomposite has a transmittance of greater than 60% at a wavelength of 400 nm when measured by a spectrophotometer in a 1 cm path length cuvette.
3. The nanocomposite of claim 1 wherein the capped nanocrystals are capped with at least one capping agent selected from the group consisting of 2-[2-(2-9-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy]acetic acid, methoxy(triethyleneoxy) propyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, n-octyl trimethoxysilane, dodecyltrimethoxysilane and m,p-ethylphenethyl trimethoxysilane.
4. A coated substrate comprising a substrate having a surface, and a coating comprised of the solventless nanocomposite according to claim 1 coated on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate.
5. The coated substrate of claim 4 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein a 1 μm thickness of the cured coating of the nanocomposite has a transmittance of greater than 89% at a wavelength of 400 nm.
6. The coated substrate of claim 4 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein the cured coating has a refractive index greater than 1.8 at a wavelength of 400 nm.
7. The coated substrate of claim 4 wherein the substrate comprises glass, indium tin oxide (ITO), doped ZnO, GaN, AlN, SiC, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) doped PEDOT, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or doped poly(4,4-dioctylcyclopentadithiophene).
8. The coated substrate of claim 4 , wherein
the capped nanocrystals comprise ZrO 2 nanocrystals capped with at least one capping agent selected from the group consisting of methoxy(triethyleneoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane and 2-[2-(2-9-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid, and wherein
the coating is thermally stable up to a temperature of 175° C. without cracking.
9. The coated substrate of claim 5 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein a 1 μm thickness of the cured coating of the nanocomposite has a haze of less than 2%.
10. The coated substrate of claim 5 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein a 1 μm thickness of the cured coating of the nanocomposite has a haze of less than 1.5%.
11. The coated substrate of claim 5 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein a 1 μm thickness of the cured coating of the nanocomposite has a haze of less than 1%.
12. The coated substrate of claim 5 , wherein the coating is cured, and wherein a 1 μm thickness of the cured coating of the nanocomposite has a haze of less than 0.5%.
13. A zirconium oxide nanocomposite comprising:
an organic mixture comprised of benzyl methacrylate (BMA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) monomers and/or oligomers in a weight ratio of BMA to TMPTA of 75:25 to 65:35,
zirconium nanocrystals capped with at least one capping agent selected from the group consisting of methoxy(triethyleneoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane and 2-[2-(2-9-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid, and
at least one curing agent or photo initiator, wherein
the capped zirconium nanocrystals are present in the nanocomposite in an amount of 50-80% by weight of the nanocomposite, and wherein
the nanocomposite has a viscosity of less than 12,000 cPs at 20° C. as measured by a Brookfield RVDV-II+PCP cone and plate viscometer, and wherein
the refractive index of the nanocomposite is in a range of 1.6 to 1.9 at a wavelength of 400 nm, and wherein
a coating of the nanocomposite when cured is stable up to a temperature of 175° C. without cracking.