Cinnamic acid-functionalized ZnO nanoparticles for constructing UV-shielding and mechanically robust polyvinyl butyral composites

Biomolecule cinnamic acid (CNA) was chemically grafted on the surface of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO Nps) via (3-Aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (KH550) as the linkage to obtain a novel UV-shielding material CNA-mZnO. It was found that CNA-mZnO exhibits stronger UV absorption property than pure ZnO. Moreover, CNA-mZnO could be homogeneously dispersed in polyvinyl butyral (PVB) matrix. As expected, the introduction of CNA-mZnO gives a positive effect on the UV-shielding performance and mechanical properties of PVB matrix. Particularly, the PVB with 2 wt% CNA-mZnO achieved a dramatically improved UV-shielding performance with UV-shielding efficiency more than 99% below 370 nm, along with satisfactory visible transmittance. Meanwhile, the maximum tensile strength of PVB/CNA-mZnO composite were approximately 50% enhancement than pure PVB. More importantly, the PVB/CNA-mZnO composites also possess the excellent anti-UV aging performance and exhibit high retention of mechanical properties after UV exposure for 96 h. This work proposed a new strategy to prepare UV-shielding and mechanically robust composites by introducing natural biomolecule-functionalized ZnO Nps, which may greatly promote their applications in packing, intelligent windows and optical devices. [Display omitted] •CNA was firstly grafted on the surface of ZnO Nps via KH550 as the linkage.•Synergetic UV absorption deriving from CNA and ZnO was achieved.•CNA-mZnO could be homogeneously dispersed in PVB matrix.•UV-shielding and mechanically robust PVB/CNA-mZnO composites were constructed.