Facile synthesis of r GO/Ag/ PVA nanocomposites polymeric films by electron beam irradiation for optoelectronic applications

Abstract

This work has demonstrated the preparation of graphene oxide (GO) using the hummer method, as well as the reduction of GO and the formation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using electron beam irradiation (EBI) treatment. Potential polymeric nanocomposite films are prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and implanted with Ag NPs, GO, and reduced graphene oxide (r GO). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the purity of the phase and the structure of the crystals. The functional groups and molecular vibration were clarified through Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was used to determine the glass transition temperature, melting temperature, and heat enthalpy of the material. Furthermore, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the observed improvement in thermal stability is attributed to the strong interfacial interaction contacts between r GO and PVA caused by hydrogen bonding between the two materials. The optical bandgap of polymeric nanocomposite films was calculated using a UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometer; it decreased from 5.7 eV of a pure PVA to 4.5 eV of a PVA/r GO at 100 k Gy for indirect allowed transition. Further, the dielectric characteristics of nanocomposite films are discussed in this study. Based on our results, the prepared PVA/r GO at 100 k Gy and PVA/r GO/Ag NPs at 50 kGy nanocomposite films can find promising applications in optoelectronic devices.