An environmentally friendly and highly transparent ZnO/cellulose nanocomposite membrane for UV sensing and shielding

A highly transparent ZnO/cellulose composite membrane with UV sensing and shielding abilities was prepared via a facile blending method. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) without additional surface modification are uniformly dispersed in the regenerated cellulose (RGC) matrix through the N-methyl-morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) dissolution of cellulose. Agglomeration of the ZnO NPs is effectively minimized, thanks to the strong hydrogen bonds between ZnO NP and cellulose. The optimized ZnO/RGC membrane exhibits not only high a shielding ratio of 97.67 ± 0.11% for UV lights (< 360 nm) but also high transparency of 87.12±1.55% in the visible light region, which is comparable to traditional plastic products. Benefiting from the high photoelectric performance of ZnO NPs, a UV sensor and a UV blocker were integrated into the same device. The as-fabricated ZnO/RGC membrane, with sensitive UV detecting and effective blocking, as well as the rich availability of cellulose as raw material and its biodegradable nature, is an ideal candidate for high-performance UV detection and protection applications. Graphical abstract