Modified Vinyl–POSS Materials as Sun Protection Factor and as Films for Greenhouse Cover

Abstract

In this work, modified vinyl-[polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)] (VP) materials as sun protection factor and as films for greenhouse cover to protect from ultraviolet (UV) were explored. Based on VP and modified with various amounts of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), POSS-modified films f-VPT i wt-% were prepared. The average transparency (AT) of the films measured at the ranges of UV-A (320-400 nm) and the UV-B (280-320 nm) spectra was about 45.43-48.71%, indicating that these films can provide a physical barrier to block UV-A and UV-B absorptions (causing human skin cancer and damaging photosynthesis of plants) by the skin and by plants in a green house. The under 25wt-% TEOS additions result in the hybrid structure containing SiO 2 which causes an increase in the AT radiation from sunlight. This increase tendency was validated using calculations of the density of state and the energy-band structure of both VP and SiO 2 building blocks by the Materials Stutio software. The less transparency of VP can be ascribed to its much narrower forbidden band.

Design and Simulation of a Greenhouse FSS Nanofiber Film for Enhancing Agricultural Productivity by Selective Reduction of UV and NIR

“…One of the most critical parts of a greenhouse is the covering film [4]. The film is designed to increase agricultural productivity by reducing ultraviolet (UV-A: 320-400 nm and UV-B: 290-320 nm) [5] and near-infrared (NIR: 700-1500 nm) [6] radiation from the sun, as UV and NIR are responsible for increasing pests. Hence, we can increase agricultural productivity by reducing UV and NIR.…”