Influence of ion beam and silver nanoparticles on dielectric properties of flexible PVA/PANI polymer composite films

In this work, a solution cast technique was used to prepare flexible nanocomposite films of PVA/PANI/Ag with different concentrations of PANI and AgNPs. The samples were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and infrared spectroscopy, which confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanocomposite films. After that, the PVA/10%PANI/6%Ag nanocomposite film was irradiated by different influences of the oxygen ion beam (8 x 1017, 16 x 1017, and 24 x 1017 ions/cm2). The Ac conductivity, dielectric properties, electric modulus, complex impedance behaviour, and the energy density efficiency of the non-irradiated and irradiated films were measured in the frequency range of 100-106 Hz. The results revealed significant changes in these parameters with an increase in concentrations of PANI and Ag nanoparticles inside the host and also with ion beam irradiation. The reported improvements in this study would open the road for appropriating the unirradiated and irradiated nanocomposite films for electromagnetic shielding and optoelectronic applications.