Sonochemical preparation of photochromic nanocomposite thin film based on polyoxometalates well dispersed in polyacrylamide

Novel photochromic nanocomposite thin film containing phosphotungstic acid entrapped in polyacrylamide was prepared using ultrasound technique. TEM image revealed that the polyoxometalates nanoparticles with narrow size distribution were finely dispersed in polymer matrix. IR spectra showed that the Keggin geometry of polyoxometalates was still preserved inside the composite film and strong Coulombic interaction was built between heteropolyoxometalates and polyacrylamide via hydrogen bond. It was found that the thermal stability of the hybrid film was lower than that of pure polymer but the film was stable enough for photochromic application from the TG-DTA curves. The transparent film changed from colorless to blue under UV irradiation and showed reversible photochromism. The bleaching process occurred when the film was in contact with air or O₂ in the dark. The photoreduced process was in accordance with radical mechanism.