Synthesis and characterization of as-grown doped polymerized (PMMA-PVA)/ZnO NPs hybrid thin films

Abstract

We report the optical, lattice dynamical, and thermal characterization of the poly-methyl-meth-acrylate (PMMA) and poly-vinyl-alcohol (PVA) doped with (wt% = 2%, 4%, 8%, and 16%) of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) deposited on glass substrate. The optical properties of as-prepared (PMMA-PVA)/ZnO NPs hybrid thin films such as transmittance (T%), reflectance (R%), absorption coefficient (α), optical constants (n and k), and optical dielectric functions (e1 and e2) are deduced using the experimental transmittance and reflectance spectra. Furthermore, a combination of classical models such as Tauc, Urbach, Spitzer–Fan, and Drude models are utilized to calculate the optical and optoelectronic parameters and the band gap of the as-grown nanocomposite thin films. Calculated refractive indices (n) of pure PMMA-PVA polymeric thin films are found to lie in the range (1.5–1.85). We found the optical band gap of PMMA-PVA thin film to be 4.101 eV. Introducing ZnO NPs into PMMA-PVA polymeric matrix leads to a noticeable decrease of the optical band gap. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) transmittance spectra are measured and interpreted in the spectral range (500–4000 cm−1) to identify the vibrational bands associated with the formation, rotation, and twisting of different bonds. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is performed to test the thermal stability of as-grown thin films. We found that as-grown thin films are thermally stable below 110 °C. Therefore, realistic, scaled and practical devices based on doped polymerized films can be fabricated. Tuning optical, chemical, and thermal properties is of prime importance for the fabrication of state-of-the-art high-tech devices.