Hybrid Organic–Inorganic PMMA Optical Fibers Functionalized with Photochromic Active WO₃ Nanoparticles: From Materials Design to Photochromic Fabrics

Abstract

Here, the direct incorporation of photochromic WO3 nanoparticles is investigated in a matrix of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) by bulk radical polymerization for the fabrication of plastic optical fibers (POFs). All the prepared composites, from preforms to 1D single fibers and 2D fabrics, are thoroughly investigated, leading to insight into their thermal, morphological, and photochromic properties (coloring/bleaching amplitudes and kinetics). It is found that the preforms exhibit partially irreversible photochromic behavior, whereas the single fibers proved to be effectively reversibly photochromic through a degradation of transmission signal upon UV irradiation and a full recovery under dark conditions. The as‐prepared PMMA plastic fibers, both undoped and doped, show good homogeneity without any imperfections or contamination. The WO3 nanoparticles play a dual role as intrinsic and extrinsic absorption centres leading to higher transmission losses. Finally, a hand‐made textile woven with a bundle of doped fibers is presented. The proposed 1D single fibers and 2D fabrics demonstrate their great potential as novel hybrid inorganic–organic materials in the domain of flexible UV‐sensors and photochromic smart textile with improved color stability and lifetime.

Negative Photochromism in Hybrid Organic–Inorganic PES Optical Fibers Functionalized with Active WO3 Nanoparticles

“…12 Also, recently, we reported on the incorporation of photochromic WO 3 nanoparticles (hereafter NP-WO) within the PMMA matrix preform, previous to fiber drawing, by bulk radical polymerization. 13 We found that the single fibers proved to be effectively reversibly photochromic through the reversible coloring from white to blue of the fibers upon UV irradiation ("positive" photochromism). In a very different approach, we investigate here the incorporation of nanostructured NP-WO in the cladding of polymer optical fibers made of PES using a postdrawing coating method (PDCM) and its effect on the modulation of the axial transmission of the PES fiber core.…”

“…POFs are made out of various types of polymers, including polystyrene (PS), amorphous fluorinated polymers (CYTOPs), polyethersulfone (PES), or polycarbonate (PC) . Also, recently, we reported on the incorporation of photochromic WO 3 nanoparticles (hereafter NP-WO) within the PMMA matrix preform, previous to fiber drawing, by bulk radical polymerization . We found that the single fibers proved to be effectively reversibly photochromic through the reversible coloring from white to blue of the fibers upon UV irradiation (“positive” photochromism).…”

Recovery of W–Mo Alloy Scrap and the Photochromic Properties of WO3/MoO3 Composite Products

“…Photochromism is a phenomenon in which materials transition persistently and reversibly between different optical states under illumination. Photochromism holds significant potential for a wide range of applications, including photonics or optoelectronics for switches and optical transistors, optical chemical sensors, dynamic color-changing camouflage coatings and clothing under solar radiation, etc. It is extensively studied and falls into two major material categories: organic materials (e.g., spiro-pyrans, azobenzenes, and diarylenes) and inorganic materials (e.g., transition-metal oxides (TMOs), metal halides, and rare earth complexes).…”