Origin of luminescence from PMMA functionalized nanoparticles

A new method is used to prepare poly (methyl methacrylate), PMMA, modified nanoparticles (anatase, γ-Al2O3, SiO2, and ZnO). The nanoparticles are coated with a layer of polymethyl methacrylate by γ or electron radiation. The properties of the modified nanoparticles have been investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL). A blue luminescence peak can be observed for the PMMA modified nanoparticles. Annealing in air atmosphere destroys the carboxylate bonds and induces the decrease of luminescence density.