Effect of Ag/CuS nanoparticles loading to enhance linear/nonlinear spectroscopic and electrical characteristics of PVP/PVA blends for flexible optoelectronics

Due to the novel physicochemical properties of polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs), a remarkable role of PNCs has been accomplished in plenty of flexible optoelectronic applications. Solution cast procedure has been performed to prepare different contents (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10 wt%) of Ag1.6Cu0.2S (ACS) incorporated in PVP/PVA blend. Fourier transforms infrared and scanning electron microscope measurements were carried out to investigate the influence of ACS on PVP/PVA structure and morphology. UV-visible spectrophotometry technique was applied to examine PVP/PVA optical properties modifications. Spectroscopic analysis reveals that direct/indirect optical bandgap of PVP/PVA host shrinks from 5.21/4.95 eV (PVP/PVA(0)) to 4.87/4.54 eV (PVP/PVA(10)). Moreover, obvious enrichments in the whole linear/nonlinear optical parameters are achieved by ACS doping. For example, refractive index and dielectric constants of PVP/PVA are increased from 1.69 and 2.87 to 1.91 and 3.63 (PVP/PVA(10)). While two orders of magnetite enhancement in nonlinear third-order susceptibility are achieved via 10% ACS doping. The electrical performance of ACS PNCs has been explored, which discloses remarkable enrichments in PVP/PVA DC-electrical conductivity (sigma(DC)) and activation energy. The obtained structural, spectroscopic and electrical investigations prove that ACS PNCs could play an efficient role in plenty of optoelectronic applications.Highlights Solution casting was used to prepare PVP/PVA loaded with Ag/CuS (ACS) NPs. FT-IR analysis reveals successful incorporation of ACS in PVP/PVA structure. Enrichments in linear/nonlinear optical parameters are achieved by ACS doping. Electrical performance of ACS PNCs has greatly been enhanced. ACS PNCs could play an efficient role in plenty of optoelectronic applications.