Influence of ZnO: Ce³⁺/ Eu³⁺ doped and co-doped nanopowders on the properties of poly (ε-caprolactone) nanocomposites

In this work the novel poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/ZnO: Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺ nanocomposites have been prepared through the solution casting method using acetophenone as solvent. The properties of the final composites were investigated by XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC, UV and PL. Diffraction patterns showed crystalline peaks at Bragg angles 2θ = 21.3° and 23.6° for PCL and the nanocomposite. Nanosphosphors are clearly dispersed and seem to have occupied PCL micro-cavities with expected elemental composition. The degree of crystallinity and overall thermal stability of the PCL nanocomposites are lower than of the pristine polymer. UV–vis transmittance spectra of the PCL showed absorption edge at lower wavelengths than all nanocomposites and nanopowders. There is an apparent improvement in the luminescent properties of the solution casted nanocomposites. In fact, the luminescence intensity of the co-doped nanocomposite samples has increased roughly10 times compared to PCL.