Fabrication of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposite: effect of high nanoparticles loading on the optical and thermal properties

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a particle size less than 50 nm were prepared using the solvothermal method from zinc acetate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of organic solvent (methanol or ethanol). PMMA/ZnO nanocomposite films were prepared by blending ZnO NPs with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using solution mixing at concentration range of 0–40 wt%. The results show that the methanol was more efficient in the synthesis of ZnO NPs than ethanol. The thermal stability and glass temperature (Tg) were enhanced by about 60 and 22 K, respectively. UV-shielding efficiency (reduced transmission) was improved by 45 ± 5% with increasing ZnO NPs content from 2 to 40 wt%. The combination of the thermal and optical enhanced properties gives potential applications in different domains, i.e., optics, photonics, and electronics.