Investigation of polyurethane diol/polycaprolactone: Nickel oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

In this present work, hybrid polymeric nanocomposites are prepared with 4:1 ratio of polyurethane diol and polycaprolactone along with nickel oxide nanoparticle as filler. Fourier transform infrared studies were used to find the possible contact of nanoparticle along with the polymer hybrid. The composites prepared were in the nanoscale as revealed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution SEM and transmission electron microscope. Their thermal behaviour is characterized by differential scanning calorimetric, thermogravimetry analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis studies, which reveals the influence of nanoparticle for various properties of the hybrid. Magnetic studies by vibrating sample magnetometry technique reveal that the composite prepared is ferromagnetic. Dielectric constant and conductivity investigations of polymer nanocomposites were investigated as a function of frequency and temperature. Redox electrochemical properties of nanocomposites studied by cyclic voltammetry reveal the potential of the material that can be used as an inexpensive metal catalyst in microbial fuel cells.