Luminescence of Eu3+ ions in hybrid polymer-inorganic composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and zirconia nanoparticles

Spherical nanoparticles of ZrO2 with 2 and 10mol% EuO1.5 up to 20nm size were prepared by the method of hydrothermal synthesis for luminescent functionalization of the polymer-inorganic nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate). Surface modification of oxide nanoparticles was carried out by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, dimethoxymethylvinyl silane and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to provide uniform distribution and to prevent agglomeration of nanosized filler in the polymer matrix. Polymer-inorganic composites were synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization in bulk. Structuring of ZrO2-EuO1.5 nanoparticles in the poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied by very-small-angle neutron scattering. According to the results, the dependence of photoluminescent properties of ZrO2-EuO1.5 nanoparticles on the content of lanthanide, the symmetry of the crystal field, surface treatment and the polymer matrix were established. A correlation was shown between Stark splitting in luminescence spectra of ZrO2-EuO1.5 nanoparticles and their phase composition. Using MMT-assay it was shown that composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and ZrO2-EuO1.5 nanoparticles do not have cytotoxic properties, which makes it possible to use them as prosthesis materials with contrasted and luminescent imaging properties.