Study on the Optoelectronic Properties of UV Luminescent Polymer: ZnO Nanoparticles Dispersed PANI

Abstract

The present work is focused on the synthesis and characterization of a new polymer thin film material suitable for emissive layer in polymer light-emitting diodes. Thin films of polyaniline and ZnO nanoparticles dispersed polyaniline have been prepared and investigated for the suitability of emissive layer in polymer light emitting diodes. ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized using wet chemical method and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction. Diffraction pattern reveals that the ZnO nanoparticles are grown in hexagonal wurtzite structure with the preferential orientation of (001) plane. Polyaniline was synthesized using potassium persulphate (initiator) at room temperature. ZnO nanoparticles are then dispersed in different doping level (5%, 10%, 15% 20% and 50%) with polyaniline. Thin films of ZnO dispersed polyaniline (PANI/ZnO) were prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy in order to investigate the surface morphology of the film. The optical characteristics and the suitability of film as emissive layer were analyzed using UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.