Nanocomposite Films of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanorods/Polyacrylamide(PAM)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for Electronic Devices Applications

Abstract

Novel nanocomposite films of Zinc oxide/polyacrylamide/polyvinyl alcohol (ZnO/PAM/PVA) were fabricated via casting methodology. The addition of ZnO nanoparticles affects the structural and physical properties of the PAM/PVA blend. The degree of the crystallinity was changed in the PAM/PVA blend after adding ZnO nanorods, as seen by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The FT-IR spectra provided evidence of the interaction between the PAM/PVA polymeric chains and ZnO nanorods. The UV-visible measurement confirmed that the ZnO nanorods embedded in PAM/PVA outcomes lead to substantial modifications in the absorption coefficient and band gap. The FESEM images provided confirmation that ZnO induces the formation of pores on polymeric matrices as roughness parameters increase. This characteristic renders it useful in electronic and optical devices. The presence of increased active surface sites on the nanocomposites contributes to their enhanced functionality in these applications. HRTEM images show that ZnO has a rod-like shape with an average particle size of 40 nm. By raising the ZnO loading, the AC conductivity of the blend increased. In the semiconductor industry, these nanocomposite films improved optical characteristics and AC conductivity stimulating their widespread use.