Preparation, structural analysis, morphological investigation and electrical properties of gold nanoparticles filled polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose blend

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposite samples have been prepared through the solution casting method utilizing a polymer blend of polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose (70/30wt.%) as organic host matrix and different concentrations of biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by the leaf extract of green mint (Mentha Spicata L.) as inorganic nanofiller. The structural, optical and morphological properties of these samples have been through FT-IR, XRD, UV/Vis. and SEM techniques. The FT-IR spectra confirm the blend components are miscible by the formation of Hydrogen bond interaction and show the polymer-nanoparticle interactions. The XRD analyses depict the semicrystalline structure of these samples and the crystallinity degree decrease with increase of Au NPs content within the PVA/CMC structure. The TEM micrograph of biosynthesized Au NPs indicates that shapes of these NPs are spherical NPs and triangular/hexagonal nanoplates with average size range 5–29nm. The alternating electrical conductivity, electrical impedance, complex dielectric permittivity and electric modulus spectra of prepared samples have been investigated at 25°C in the frequency range (0.1Hz–20MHz). Thus, the variations in values of conductivity, dielectric permittivity and relaxation times indicate the feasibility of these materials as flexible nanodielectric of frequency tunable permittivity for radio/audio frequency operating microelectronic/conventional devices.