Two alternative methods of introducing fluorescent dyes in the Au nanoparticles-polysiloxane composites have been developed and investigated. According to first method, the acetone solution of fluorescent dye and chloroauric acid was mixed with the vinyl-terminated polysiloxane (PSi) precursor, following by addition of Si-H containing precursor. The process of polymerization was performed by in-oven curing at 60<sup>o</sup>C for 24 hrs. During the curing procedure, reduction of Au(III) to the zero-valent Au takes place. According the second method, similar procedure was performed for preparation of Au nanoparticles in polysiloxane without an addition of fluorescent dye in acetone solution of chloroauric acid. Prepared blocks of Au/PSi nanocomposites were immersed in solution of fluorescent dye in dichloroethane and molecules of dye diffused into polymer matrix within 48 hrs at room temperature. Absorbance and fluorescence spectra of prepared Au/PSi nanocomposites are investigated and compared with the spectra of colloidal dispersion of Au nanoparticles in PSi containing different concentrations of polymethine, perylenediimide and rhodamine dyes, introduced into PSi matrix by two different methods. In several cases it was found that the presence of Au nanoparticles is able to enhance the emission efficiency of dye molecules, probably due to resonance energy transfer process. The possibility to use synthesized Au/PSi nanocomposites in luminescent solar concentrators is discussed.

Investigation of two alternative methods of introducing fluorescent dyes in the Au nanoparticles-polysiloxane composites

249th National Meeting (2015)

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