Preparation of manganese-doped carbon quantum dots@halloysite nanotube composites films for advanced UV shielding properties

The development of ultraviolet (UV) shielding materials is of great importance to protect human health and prevent the degradation of organic matter. However, the synthesis of highly efficient UV shielding polymer nanocomposites is currently limited by the agglomeration of inorganic anti-UV nanoparticles (NPs) within the polymer matrix and the limited absorption spectrum of UV shielding agents. In this study, highly effective manganese doped carbon quantum dots@halloysite nanotube composites (Mn-CDs@HNTs/PAS) were successfully synthesized by loading manganese-doped carbon quantum dots (Mn-CDs) into UV shielding effective halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) via the solvothermal method, followed by polymerization modification (PAS). The results show that inorganic NPs are evenly dispersed into the polymer matrix. The resulting UV shielding film prepared by mixing Mn-CDs@HNTs/PAS composites with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shows enhanced UV absorption and thermal stability compared with pure PVC film. It thus appears that Mn-CDs@HNTs/PAS composites have a promising future in UV protection.