This paper reviews the engineering of nanocomposite thin films by adjusting inorganic nanoparticle loadings in a polymer matrix.
Optically transparent solids have numerous applications and have experienced widespread use for centuries. Glass was the predominant material over most of that time, with additives often included to engineer specific properties. A wide range of refractive indices and absorption characteristics were eventually produced. Glass and common metal oxides eventually spanned the refractive index range from 1.44 (SiO2) to 2.7 (TiO2). In the modern era, polymers have become a common alternative to glass in many applications.