INFLUENCE OF CuO NANOPARTICLES ON THE STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES, SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS, AND OPTICAL BEHAVIOR OF POLY(4-CHLOROANILINE) POLYMERIC FILMS

Abstract

In this study, the composite P(4ClAni)/CuO, which consists of Poly(4-Chloroaniline) P(4ClAni) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized utilizing a chemically oxidative polymerization approach to be applied in optoelectronics. Both FTIR and EDX analyses showed that CuO has been successfully integrated into the P(4ClAni) matrix. The SEM micrographs reveal uniform loading and distribution of CuO throughout the P(4ClAni) polymeric chains. The UV–Vis absorbance, the Urbach energy, the band edge and a number of carbon clusters were determined. The Tauc relationship was used to determine the band gaps, which revealed a decrease as the CuO concentration increased. The band gap drops from 3.84[Formula: see text]eV for P(4ClAni) to 3.09, 2.85, and 2.64[Formula: see text]eV, correspondingly for P(4ClAni)/CuO-1, P(4ClAni)/CuO-2, and P(4ClAni)/CuO-3. While, the Urbach tail is increased from 1.66[Formula: see text]eV for P(4ClAni) correspondingly to 1.81, 1.85, and 1.93[Formula: see text]eV. The results show composites made of P(4ClAni)/CuO have better optical characteristics than pure polymer P(4ClAni), suggesting that they can use these composites in optoelectronics devices.