Optical and structural properties of PVA films doped with Cu nanoparticles

Abstract

Optical and structural properties of composite films are studied with the effect of Cunanoparticles doped in PVA. Samples are PVA films of (0.13 mm) thickness are doped withdifferent concentrations of Cu nanoparticles. The nano-composite samples are prepared by thewell-known solution cast method. Cu nanoparticles are prepared by laser ablation method usingNd-Yag laser in pure water. Using the absorbance and transmittance of the samples, the effect ofdoped nanoparticles and their concentration on optical parameters of PVA films includingabsorption coefficient, optical band gap energy, complex refractive index, complex dielectricfunction, before and after annealing are extracted and discussed. Studying the effect of Cunanoparticles on the optical parameters gives an indication that all these parameters are affected.Also the optical properties of the films are highly affected by annealing. Cu–O bonds are formedin the films and the band gap energy of samples is decreased. Structural properties are studiedusing X-ray diffraction spectrum. The results show that by doping Cu nanoparticles in PVA, Theintensity of diffracted X-ray photons from films has been increased noticeably after the dopingprocess.