Poly(p-xylylene) Silver Nanocomposites: Optical, Radiative, and Structural Properties

Abstract

We perform a detailed investigation of coatings made of poly(p-xylylene) nanocomposites with embedded silver nanoparticles of sizes up to 12 nm and concentration up to 10.5 vol. %. We study their microstructure, mechanical, optical, and radiative characteristics. We reveal certain correlations between structural peculiarities and optical, as well as radiative properties. These correlations are due to fluctuations in distribution of nanoparticles in a polymer matrix and also due to the peculiarities of nanoparticles size distribution. We calculated optical dispersion coefficients for nanocomposites with different silver content. It was shown the refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) is strongly dependent on the silver content and change within the 1.4-2.4 for n and 0-0.6 for the k. It is argued that poly(p-xylylene)silver nanocomposites can be used to construct multilayer coatings with required optical constant and conformal to any complex morphology.