Hybrid acrylic/CeO2 nanocomposites using hydrophilic spherical and high aspect ratio CeO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

A dispersion of CeO2 nanoparticles and nanorods stabilized with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and a 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) (V-501) initiator has been used to initiate the emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers, yielding stable hybrid CeO2 nanoparticle-nanorod/polyacrylate latexes for the first time. Films cast from these hybrid latexes are transparent due to the very homogenous distribution of the polymer compatibilized CeO2. Furthermore, it has been proven that the UV-Vis absorption capacity of the hybrid latexes is enhanced with the incorporation of the nanorods.