Promising PVA/TiO2, CuO filled nanocomposites for electrical and third order nonlinear optical applications

Abstract

In this paper, we report enhancing the structural, morphological, mechanical, linear and nonlinear optical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) encapsulated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. PVA/(x)TiO2(15-x)CuO nanocomposites for x = 0 wt%, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 7.5 wt%, 10 wt%, 14 wt% and 15 wt% filling concentration are prepared using ex-situ and solvent casting technique. The XRD spectra of the prepared nanocomposites endorse the semi-crystalline nature of PVA nanocomposites. The atomic force microscope (AFM) image displayed the uniform grain structure for pure PVA and change in surface morphology for prepared nanocomposites. Universal testing machine (UTM) explored high tensile strength and Young's modulus of 1685.70 MPa for x = 10 wt% filling concentration. PVA/(x)TiO2(15-x)CuO nanocomposites shows an enhanced electrical conductivity of 3.21 × 10−8Scm−1 for x = 10 wt% filling concentration. UV–Vis spectroscopy exposed the reduction in optical energy gap with the increase in filling concentration. Photoluminescence (PL) studies spectacles maximum enhancement in PL intensity for x = 10 wt% filling concentration. The Z-scan technique shows third order nonlinear absorption coefficient of 8.17 × 10−4 cm/W, the nonlinear refractive index of 2.56 × 10−8 cm2/W and nonlinear optical susceptibility of 1.48 × 10−6 esu for optimum nanocomposites.