Synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles decorated graphene quantum dots nanohybrids reinforced polyaniline ternary nanocomposites on optical, thermal, and dielectric properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT In situ synthesized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) decorated with green synthesized AgNPs (AgNPs@GQDs) hybrid nanofillers reinforced polyaniline (PANI) ternary nanocomposites was synthesized by in situ polymerization. The UV-Vis spectroscopy showed the presence of AgNPs at 402 nm in AgNPs@GQDs hybrid nanofillers, and a charge transfer complex was formed between PANI matrix and AgNPs@GQDs hybrid nanofillers. The direct optical band gap of the ternary nanocomposites calculated from UV-Vis analysis is found to be 3.085 eV, which indicates the ternary nanocomposite may be used for solar cell applications. The Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy represented the occurrence of interphase interactions between the ternary nanocomposites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed the positions and intensities of the hybrid nanofillers and PANI matrix. The morphology of the ternary nanocomposites was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) attributed to the thermal degradation of the ternary nanocomposites. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed the oxygen reduction potential of the ternary nanocomposites. Photoluminescence (PL) activity of the ternary nanocomposites was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The AC conductivity of the ternary nanocomposites significantly increases as compared to pure PANI due to the presence of uniformly distributed hybrid nanofillers within PANI matrix.