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4620050 
Journal Article 
Refractive Index Tuning of Hybrid Materials for Highly Transmissive Luminescent Lanthanide Particle-Polymer Composites 
Kim, P; Li, C; Riman, RE; Watkins, J 
2018 
1 
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
ISSN: 1944-8244
EISSN: 1944-8252 
10 
10 
9038-9047 
English 
29431419 
WOS:000427910800070 
High-refractive-index ZrO2 nanoparticles were used to tailor the refractive index of a polymer matrix to match that of luminescent lanthanide-ion-doped (La0.92Yb0.075Er0.005F3) light-emitting particles, thereby reducing scattering losses to yield highly transparent emissive composites. Photopolymerization of blends of an amine-modified poly(ether acrylate) oligomer and tailored quantities of ZrO2 nanoparticles yielded optically transparent composites with tailored refractive indices between 1.49 and 1.69. By matching the refractive index of the matrix to that of La0.92Yb0.075Er0.005F3, composites with high transmittance (>85%) and low haze from the visible to infrared regions, bright 1530 nm optical emissions were achieved at solids loadings of La0.92Yb0.075Er0.005F3, ranging from 5 to 30 vol %. These optical results suggest that a hybrid matrix approach is a versatile strategy for the fabrication of functional luminescent optical composites of high transparency.