Preparation and characterization of down converting poly (vinyl alcohol)/ PANI@CuS hybrid nanocomposites for optoelectronic application

Abstract

A new avenue for modifying the physical and chemical characteristics of the semiconducting polymers is opened by the incorporation of conducting polymers coated with inorganic nanoparticles into the semiconducting host polymers. For the manufacture of polyaniline (PANI) composites containing copper sulfide (PANI@CuS) and subsequent introduction to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), an in-suite polymerization process was used. In the current study, PVA/PANI@CuS hybrid nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared using an environmentally friendly solution casting technique with PANI@CuS concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 ​wt%. To assess their morphological, electrical, optical, and surface characteristics, the prepared polymer hybrid nanocomposites were put through a variety of analytical techniques. The molecular connection between CuS, PANI, and PVA is visible thanks to X-ray diffraction and FT-IR investigations. The refractive index rises from 1.40 to 1.73 while the band gap in the UV–Visible decreases from 6.17 to 3.43, providing information on the optical characteristics. Additionally, photoluminescence spectra exhibit a 150 ​nm Stokes shift towards higher wavelengths, opening up additional opportunities for photovoltaic applications. The electrical characteristics were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and it was discovered that the conduction mechanism adheres to the Poole-Frenkel effect. The obtained findings demonstrate that the addition of PANI@CuS significantly improves the host polymer matrix's opto-electronic characteristics.