Applications of Spectroscopic Techniques for Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposite: A Review

Through past eras, spectroscopic techniques found numerous applications i.e., from biological applications to measurement of chemical composition and characterization of numerous materials such as polymers, nanocomposites etc. Nanocomposites, in addition to radiation shielding materials are developing and growing materials having numerous uses. For study of distinctive characteristics, characterization, and development of new materials employing polymer nanocomposites, numerous characterization practices are accessible and are in use nowadays. The prime objective of current review is to summarize the knowledge of existing characterization practices and to explore the applications of fluorescence, UV–Vis spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD), small angel X-ray scattering (SAXS), and infrared in addition to Raman technique towards characterization of metal oxide composites, polymers, fillers, composites besides nanocomposites. Fluorescence techniques find limitations in providing comprehensive examination of materials. For information regarding material size, aggregation phase, as well as refractive index, UV–Vis spectroscopy was employed. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy give information about silanol hydroxyl groups present at exterior of silica as well as their interactions with polymer and polymer-filler interfacial connections. WXRD provide information on crystal structure, composition, crystalline grain size of materials while SAXS provide information about size of particle, and its distribution. To characterize different types of functional groups in materials, infrared spectroscopy was employed. Raman spectroscopy finds wide-ranging applications for analysis of materials. The novelty of this review is that until yet, very few review papers have been published that concisely describe all above mentioned techniques along with their applications in a very simple and effective means.