Boosting the structure, linear/nonlinear and dielectric characteristics of PVA/PVP/graphene blend by doping with Zn/CuO nanostructures for optoelectronic applications

Abstract

Abstract Linear/nonlinear optical, structural and dielectric performance of PVA/PVP/graphene blend has been enhanced by doping with Cu/ZnO (ZCO) nanoparticles (NPs) for optoelectronic applications. Bare and ZCO polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) blends were fabricated by the casting method. The structure of the synthesized ZCO NPs and ZCO PNCs were studied by the XRD and FT-IR techniques. The optical performance was discussed on the basis of UV-visible-NIR data. XRD investigations reveals the wurtzite structure of ZCO NPs with a crystallite size of 17.8 nm. FT-IR investigations confirm the integration of ZCO NPs with host blend’s structure. The optical analysis exposes that the direct and indirect band gap of the host blend decreases from 5.20 eV and 4.94 eV to 4.36 eV and 4.29 eV (10 wt% of ZCO PNCs). The Urbach energy rises from 0.62 eV to 1.28 eV (ZCO PNCs). The refractive index growths from 1.29 (bare blend) to 1.82 (ZCO PNC) at hν = 2.0 eV. Besides, great enhancement in the nonlinear optical constants is achieved via ZCO doping. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) increases from 1.30 x 10− 13 esu (bare) to 9.23 x 10− 11 esu (ZCO PNC) at hν = 5.0 eV. These valuable achievements in the optical behavior of PVA/PVP/graphene blend by ZCO doping nominate it for applications in optical devices issues.