Modification of Microstructural, Optical and Electrical Properties of PVA by Zinc Ferrite Nano Fillers

Abstract

Zinc ferrite nano fillers are synthesized by using chemical precipitation method. The size of the synthesized nanoparticles is determined from XRD result. The pure and nano sized zinc ferrite doped PVA composite films were prepared by solvent casting method. The prepared polymer nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, UV-Vis and Electrical conductivity measurements. From XRD results it is found that the semicrystalline polymer get turns in to crystalline form upon doping. Using the observed UV-Vis study Molar extinction coefficient, dipole moment, dipole strength, dipole length and oscillator strength were estimated by adopting standard method and variation of these parameters with doping level are attributed to modifications in the orientation of the crystallites within the composite. The optical energy band gap and activation energy were also calculated using absorption spectra and it is observed that the optical band gap decreases and activation energy increases with filler concentration. The decrease in the band gap and creation of new dipoles enhances the electrical conductivity of the composite films. The maximum conductivity of 6.52571 × 10-5 S/cm is achieved for 2 wt% dopant concentration.