Physical and chemical characterization of polyaniline (PANI)/indium tin oxide nanoparticles (ITONPs) nanocomposite films

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of polyaniline (PANI) incorporated with indium tin oxide nanoparticles (ITONPs; 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 wt%) nanocomposite films were investigated for optoelectronic applications. These nanocomposite films have an enhanced crystallinity when compared to pure PANI. Moreover, the increase in ITONPs concentration in the PANI/ITONPs nanocomposite films results in an increase in the electrical conductivity. The refractive index of PANI film deduced from UV–Vis spectra for PANI film decreases from 2.20 to 1.45 as an incident photon wavelength increases from 250 nm to 700 nm. An increase in the ITONPs concentration in the PANI/ITONPs nanocomposite films leads to a concomitant increase in the refractive index from 1.52 to 1.58 and a decrease in the optical bandgap energies from 3.71 to 3.65 eV. Introducing ITONPs with 4 wt% and 16 wt% into PANI films increases the crystal phase in the films and increases the diameter of the chaotic interwoven fibers. Moreover, the surface roughness increased increases to 0.24 μm for PANI/ITONPs nanocomposite films with 16 wt% of ITONPs. PANI/ITONPs nanocomposite films were successfully fitted using the Bruggeman model, implying a continuous distribution of dispersed ITONPs inside the PANI matrix. Accordingly, no interaction between ITONPs and host polymer (PANI) can be considered, while interaction occurs solely between nanoparticles.