title: Preparation and characterization of self-photostabilizing UV-durable bionanocomposite membranes for outdoor applications.
abstract: Here, we report a durable and ultraviolet (UV) resistant nanocomposite membrane of chitosan (CS) with effective photostabilization ascribed to Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were successfully dispersed in the solution of chitosan polymer. The nanocomposite films with the homogenous dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles in the chitosan matrix were obtained by solution casting method and the influence of ZnO nanoparticles as a photostabilizer was studied. The nanocomposite membranes were photoirradiated by polychromatic radiations with λ>300nm using mercury vapour lamps in SEPAP instrument. The resulting nanocomposite material exhibited excellent UV-resistance in very low percentages of ZnO nanoparticles. The chitosan membranes showed fast degradation attributes than the nanocomposite membranes. ZnO nanoparticles effectively absorbed UV radiations, thus protecting polymer from radiation degradation. The neat and irradiated nanocomposites of chitosan and ZnO nanoparticles (CS/ZnO) were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy for the chemical changes/degradation taking place. Chitosan nanocomposites were further characterized for tensile properties, contact angle measurements and surface morphology.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Chemical Engineering and Process Development (CEPD) Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 2, Rafi Marg, Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, India; Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Advanced Research & Development Centre in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Applied Chemistry, Erandawane, Pune 411038, India. Electronic address: os.kushwaha@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: Omkar S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kushwaha
authors.affiliation: Polymer Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 2, Rafi Marg, Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, India.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Avadhani
authors.affiliation: Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 2, Rafi Marg, Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, India; Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Advanced Research & Development Centre in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Applied Chemistry, Erandawane, Pune 411038, India. Electronic address: rp.singh.ncl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D017155:Wettability; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D048271:Chitosan; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Bionanocomposite membrane; Chitosan; Contact angle measurement; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Photostabilization; Zinc oxide nanoparticles