Characterization and some physical studies of PVA/PVP filled with MWCNTs

Abstract

Pristine films of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) polymer blend filled with gradient contents of (MWCNTs) multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been prepared using ordinary casting technique. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) revealed the existence of main characteristic peaks corresponding to vibrational groups that characterized the synthesized samples. The interaction between nano-composite components was indicated by variation of main vibrational bands in the spectral range 1500–1750 cm−1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the structural modification in PVA/PVP matrix due to MWCNTs filling. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM (shows the presence of MWCNTs with a diameter between 80 and 30 nm and length of about several micrometers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used to approve the homogenous nature of prepared samples. The absorption coefficient spectra show the appearance of two absorption peaks at 290 and 620 nm attributed to n → π* and π → π* electronic transitions. The optical energy gap (Eg) have been obtained from the indirect allowed transition. It was found that, Eg decrease with increasing MWCNTs content. Analysis of refractive index n showed a normal dispersion in the wavelength range 866–2500 nm, as well as an anomalous dispersion in the wavelength range 190–866 nm. The oscillator parameters (oscillator energy and dispersion energy) were calculated. The decrease in optical energy gap and the increase in refractive index due to filling with MWCNTs suppose the possibility of their use in optical devices. Keywords: MWCNTs, PVA, PVP, Refractive index, FTIR, UV/vis