Transparent ZnO–PVA binary composite for UV-A photo detector: optical, electrical and thermal properties followed by laser induced fluorescence

A compatible high performance UV-A sensor has been developed using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/ZnO membrane on an ITO substrate. The current challenges on UV-A photo detector have been overcome with the optimized performance of the binary composition through combining the wide-range of UV-A light photo-response, high sensitivity and quick response. This paper presents the electrical and optical properties of ZnO/PVA nanocomposites. It deals with the experimental correlation between complex optical conductivity and complex dielectric function. The ZnO filler is addressed to the modification in the band-structure, thermal properties and molecular orbital electron density. The defect states formation and laser induced fluorescence of composites were also investigated for the first time.