Gamma radiation induced modifications in PC/SnS2 nanocomposite: structural and optical studies

Abstract

Polycarbonate/tin disulfide (PC/SnS2) nanocomposite (NCP) was synthesized by the casting and thermolysis routes. The resulted effect of γ radiation, within doses 20–130 kGy, on the structural and optical characterization of PC/SnS2 NCP has been inspected via XRD, FTIR and UV spectroscopes. Additionally, the optical band gap reduced from 4.29 to 4.02 eV on raising γ dose to 130 kGy, indicating the growth in disordered phase. This was accompanied by an increase in the refractive index values from 2.11 to 2.16, revealing the spreading of SnS2 nanoparticles (NPs) into the PC matrix that enhances the isotropic nature of the PC-SnS2 NCP. Moreover, the color variation between the irradiated NCP films and the pristine one (color intensity, ΔE) has been computed; results show that the NCP films have a response to color modifications by γ radiation, since ΔE increase from 2.09 to 23.40. According to the resulting enhancement in the optical characteristics of the developed PC/SnS2 NCP, it may be a suitable candidate, as a material that is used for blocking UV radiation.