4. Conclusions
In summary, a nanocomposite containing ZnO nanorods and LBZA sheets was synthesized using a simple wet chemical route. Due to the presence of a large amount of LBZA (38.1 wt%), the composite possessed significantly reduced photoactivity compared to the commercial ZnO particles or particles obtained by further heat treating the ZnO/LBZA composite. This composite with such quenched photoactivity may provide a potential substitute for ZnO in sunscreen formulation. However, the stability and durability of the LBZA component requires further study before any such conclusion can be made.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Lynne Waddington and Richard Harris for the TEM analysis and photoactivity measurement.