Polymer nanocomposite having surface modified nanoparticles and methods of preparing same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nanocomposite containing a plurality of nanoparticles, each nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group; and an organic matrix. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the nanocomposite, the method consisting of: (a) providing a plurality of nanoparticles, each nanoparticle containing at least one metal sulfide nanocrystal having a surface modified with a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid has at least one aryl group; (b) providing an organic matrix that is a radiation curable monomer, a radiation curable oligomer, or mixtures thereof; and (c) mixing the plurality of nanoparticles with the organic matrix to effect dissolution of the plurality of nanoparticles. Also disclosed is a second method of preparing the nanocomposite wherein (b) consists of providing an organic matrix that is a thermoplastic polymer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.