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Investigations into Ag nanoparticles–carbon–poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) composite: morphological, structural, optical, and electrical characterization

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Abstract

The incorporation of different materials can improve the properties of conductive polymers to become composites. This paper studies the morphological, structural, optical, and electrical effects of adding different weight ratios of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs)-carbon (C) mixture into poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) polymer by a low-cost and straightforward method. The thin films are prepared by drop-casting the prepared composite onto silicon substrates. Transmission electron microscopy shows Ag NPs embedded into the carbon. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images show increased Ag NPs-carbon particle size in PFO. The weight ratio increases due to aggregation, consistent with decreasing band gap trend from the Tauc plot. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy shows a redshift pattern of the central peak of PFO as the weight ratio increases. Photoluminescence and Raman spectra show that Ag NPs-carbon mixture increases β-phase percentage in PFO due to poor solvent effect. Lastly, the 10% Ag NPs-carbon-PFO sample exhibits the highest electrical conductivity among the three samples studied. A proposed schematic diagram shows how Ag NPs-C particles influence the morphology of the PFO chain and electrical properties of PFO-Ag NPs-C composite.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Nano-Optoelectronics Research & Technology Laboratory (NOR Lab), School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Support and funding under the USM Fellowship Scheme (Masters) are greatly appreciated and acknowledged. Our gratitude also goes to the Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO) USM for supporting us with the Short-Term Grant (304/CINOR/6315364).

Funding

We have received funding under the USM Fellowship Scheme (Masters) and also the Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO) USM Short-Term Grant (304/CINOR/6315364).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

    Suvindraj Rajamanickam, Sabah M. Mohammad, Z. Hassan & Aminu Muhammad

  2. School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

    Ahmad Fairuz Omar

  3. Department of Physics, Sule Lamido University, Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State, Nigeria

    Aminu Muhammad

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  1. Suvindraj Rajamanickam
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  2. Sabah M. Mohammad
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  4. Ahmad Fairuz Omar
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Contributions

SR performed conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, writing—original draft; SMM helped in writing—review and editing, visualization, and supervision; ZH contributed to resources, project administration, and funding acquisition; AFO helped in validation, data curation, writing—review and editing; and AM was involved in validation and writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Suvindraj Rajamanickam or Sabah M. Mohammad.

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Rajamanickam, S., Mohammad, S.M., Hassan, Z. et al. Investigations into Ag nanoparticles–carbon–poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) composite: morphological, structural, optical, and electrical characterization. Polym. Bull. 79, 9111–9130 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03938-w

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