Preparation of Lighting in the Dark and Photochromic Electrospun Glass Nanofiber-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites Immobilized with Alkaline Earth Aluminates

• Published in: ACS omega 2023-01, Vol.8 (1), p.1683-1692
• Main Authors: Mogharbel, Amal T., Alluhaybi, Ahmad A., Almotairy, Awatif R. Z., Aljohani, Meshari M., El-Metwaly, Nashwa M., Zaky, Rania
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2470-1343; 2470-1343
• DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07554

Alkaline earth aluminates (AEAs) as photoluminescent agents and silicon dioxide-based electrospun glass nanofibers with an average diameter of 150–450 nm as a roughening agent were prepared and applied to reinforce an epoxy resin toward the development of long-persistent photoluminescent and photochromic smart materials, such as smart windows and anticounterfeiting barcodes. With the physical immobilization of lanthanide-doped aluminate nanoparticles (NPs), a light-induced luminescent transparent glass@epoxy film was developed. The glass@epoxy samples were able to alter their color to green beneath ultraviolet rays and greenish-yellow in the dark, as explored by CIE Lab and luminescence spectral analyses. The morphology of the lanthanide-doped aluminate nanoparticles (43–98 nm) was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphologies and chemical composition of the luminescent glass@epoxy substrates were determined by different analytical techniques. The mechanical properties of the developed photoluminescent glass@epoxy substrates were inspected to show improved scratch resistance as compared to the AEA-free substrate. The photoluminescence spectra were measured to indicate the detection of two emission bands at 494 and 525 nm when excited at 365 nm. The photoluminescent glass@epoxy hybrids with lower AEA contents have showed fast reversibility of photochromism. On the other hand, the glass@epoxy substrates with higher phosphor contents underwent persistent luminescence. Results showed that the luminescent colorless glass@epoxy hybrids have enhanced superhydrophobicity and ultraviolet blocking.