Polymer-based composite with outstanding mechanically tunable refractive index

A composite with high visible light transmittance, mechanically tunable refractive index (RI) and rubber-like mechanical properties, based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and barium titanate nanoparticles (BT) was prepared on three steps. First, BT nanoparticles were obtained by high-energy milling. Second, the nanoparticles were embedded in PDMS by in-situ polymerization; the BT content was varied up to 1.0 wt% (0.17 vol%). Finally, ∼0.5 mm membranes were prepared by solvent casting. The effect of the BT concentration was examined. Powder XRD and Raman spectroscopy revealed a tetragonal crystal structure for the nanoparticles. SEM images confirmed a mean particle size of ∼64 nm and together with EDX mappings showed a moderate dispersion of the nanoparticles in some membranes, whereas other exhibited agglomerates at the surface. The normal transmittance of the membranes was measured with a spectroscopic ellipsometer while they were stretched in-situ at different percentages. The RI variations as a function of strain were calculated from the transmittance spectra. The results exhibit surprising variations in the RI, up to ∼5 times higher than those associated to PDMS alone, implying that the presence of BT significantly influences the optical response of the PDMS when stretched. However, the response is neither linear nor well understood; further studies must be performed to clarify this new interaction.