Synthesis and Optical Properties of PVA/PANI/Ag Nanocomposite films

Herein flexible nanocomposite films composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyaniline (PANI), and silver (Ag) are synthesized using solution cast technique for optoelectronics applications. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV absorbance have confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanocomposite films with uniform silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded in the PVA/PANI blend. The optical bandgap of PVA/PANI blends and PVA/PANI/Ag nanocomposites is determined by ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, which shows a decrease compared with a pristine PVA film. Meanwhile, Urbach energy, absorption edge (Ed), the number of carbon clusters (N) were estimated. Furthermore, the influence of PANI and AgNPs on the reflection, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary dielectric constant, and the optical conductivity is discussed. The results clear that the optical properties of PVA polymer modify by adding PANI and AgNPs. Based on that, the fabricated PVA/PANI/Ag nanocomposites films can be used in optoelectronic devices.