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Characterization of As-prepared PVA-PEO/ZnO-Al2O3-NPs hybrid nanocomposite thin films

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Synthesis, optical, mechanical, and structural characterization of organic–inorganic nanocomposite thin films based on polyethylene oxide and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymers incorporated with (1:0), (0.75:0.25), (0.5:0.5), (0.25:0.75), and (0:1) content percentage ratios of ZnO-NPs: Al2O3-NPs nanoparticles are reported. The optical properties, including the absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric function, and optical band gap for the films, are investigated from the measured transmittance and reflectance using a newly derived mathematical model. The as-grown PVA-PEO polymeric thin films exhibit transmittance of 87% while it decreases down to 75% with ZnO-NPs and decreases in between by the addition of Al2O3-NPs. However, the refractive index increases from 2.0 with ZnO-NPs to 2.7 with Al2O3-NPs. The band gap energy is from 3.98 to 3.89 eV accordingly. The dislocation density\(,\) crystallite size, and average internal strain obtained from the X-ray diffraction patterns exhibit abnormal behavior for equal ratio (0.5:0.5) of the two types of NPs compared with other ratios. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements to elucidate the major vibrational modes and bonding in the nanocomposite thin films. A redshift of the major peaks has been observed for all investigated compositional ratios indicating a shift of the absorption edge confirming the band gap reduction. The SEM micrographs show a clear form of nanocomposites with PVA-PEO/ZnO-NPs compared to those when Al2O3-NPs or a combination of the two kinds of NPs are introduced to the complex matrix. Our detailed analysis of the physical properties of PVA-PEO/ZnO-Al2O3 indicates their potential to be candidate materials for modern optical and optoelectronic devices.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jordan University of Science and Technology in Jordan for the support provided by the Deanship of Scientific Research on project No. 2018/0246. The authors would like to thank Prof. Borhan Albiss and Prof. M-Ali Al-Akhras for their help in using the facilities in the Center of Nanotechnology and the Lab. of Biomedical Physics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Sciences, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Ahmad A. Ahmad, Mais H. Khazaleh, Ahmad M. Alsaad & Qais M. Al-Bataineh

  2. Leibniz Institut Für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-E.V, Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Straße 11, 44139, Dortmund, Germany

    Qais M. Al-Bataineh & Ahmad D. Telfah

  3. Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research (HMCSR), Jordan University, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    Ahmad D. Telfah

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  1. Ahmad A. Ahmad
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Contributions

AAA: Data Curation, Methodology, Data acquisition, Writing-Original draft preparation, Data Curation, Software, Supervision; MHK: Data Curation, Methodology, Data acquisition, Writing-Original draft preparation, Data Curation, Software; AMA: Data Curation, Methodology, Data acquisition, Writing-Original draft preparation, Supervision; QMAB: Investigation, Data acquisition, analysis, Writing-Original draft preparation, Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision; ADT: Investigation, analysis, and Conceptualization.

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Correspondence to Ahmad M. Alsaad.

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Ahmad, A.A., Khazaleh, M.H., Alsaad, A.M. et al. Characterization of As-prepared PVA-PEO/ZnO-Al2O3-NPs hybrid nanocomposite thin films. Polym. Bull. 79, 9881–9905 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03969-3

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