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Synthesis and characterization of ZnO NPs-doped PMMA-BDK-MR polymer-coated thin films with UV curing for optical data storage applications

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Abstract

Hybrid material of poly-methyle-methacrylate (PMMA)-benzyl-dimethyl-ketal-azo dye methyl red (MR) thin film composites doped by various concentrations of ZnO NPs have been dip coated on glass substrates. The existence of azo dye (MR) in the composite was intentional to give the solution the desired pH level and to induce the cis ↔ trans cycles through illumination ↔ thermal relaxation. The optical and structural properties of the as-prepared thin films are investigated in relevance to ZnO NPs contents and the period of UV light illumination (short- and long-wavelength UV light). We found that the PMMA-BDK-MR doped by 1% ZnO NPs could be successfully used in optical data storage by implementing this composite in the WRITE/READ/ERASE cycle repeatedly. Specifically, it was found that the absorption band of the PMMA-BDK-MR doped by 1% ZnO NPs thin film lies between 350 and 600 nm upon illumination with 366 nm UV light for 10 s. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the thermal stability of PMMA-BDK-MR/ZnO NPs. The TGA results are presented and interpreted. Furthermore, we investigated annealed poly-methyle-methacrylate-benzyl-dimethyl-ketal-methyl-red (PMMA-BDK-MR) doped by 1% ZnO NPs thin films. The trans–cis cycle has been repeated sequentially to confirm the hysteresis behavior for possible data READ/WRITE or ERASE memory applications.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Jordan for technical and financial support received from the Deanship of Scientific Research (scientific project #20160166).

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  1. Department of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    A. A. Ahmad, A. M. Alsaad, Qais M. Al-Bataineh, M-Ali H. Al-Akhras, Kholoud A. Alizzy & Nermeen S. Daoud

  2. Electronic Engineering Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

    Zaid Albataineh

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  1. A. A. Ahmad
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Ahmad, A.A., Alsaad, A.M., Al-Bataineh, Q.M. et al. Synthesis and characterization of ZnO NPs-doped PMMA-BDK-MR polymer-coated thin films with UV curing for optical data storage applications. Polym. Bull. 78, 1189–1211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03155-x

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