Polymer Composites with Magnetically Tunable Optical Anisotropy AITranslate

Basic Information:

DOI：https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c00954

Chinese Library Classification Number:

Citation Information:

Control over the assembly and orientation of nanostructured filler particles in the polymer host is a key factor for fabricating functional composite materials with desired properties. In this study, the nanocomposites of graphene oxide with iron oxide nanoparticles (GO-IONP) are fabricated in the form of 2D sheets and homogeneously dispersed in epoxy resin. Each GO-IONP sheet comprises a single GO layer, decorated by IONPs. Then, by applying an external magnetic field, the GO-IONP sheets are successfully oriented unidirectionally in the whole macroscopic sample. This yields solid anisotropic composites with unique optical properties, confirmed by the range of instrumental techniques. The optical anisotropy of the as-fabricated materials manifests through Raman scattering, transmission of polarized light, light scattering, and reflectance. The composites also exhibit selective whitening, depending on the position of a light source and an observer with respect to the sample surface. The developed method opens the routes for fabricating bulk solid materials, films, coatings, and paints, which possess unique optical properties and exhibit specific visual effects. The physical insights of the light–matter interactions are discussed.