Structural, Optical and Morphological Properties of PVA / Fe2O3 Nanocomposite Thin Films

The addition of inorganic nanoparticles to polymers allows the modification of the polymer physical properties as well as the implementation of new features in the polymer matrix. Thin films of pure Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) and PVA mixed with 4 %, 8 % & 12 % by weight of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NP) were prepared by spin coating technique. The average size of Fe2O3 nanoparticles were 30nm – 40 nm. Structural, Optical and Morphological properties of the prepared nanocomposite films were studied by using Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectrophotometer,(FTIR) Ultra Violet Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The peaks in FTIR spectra of the prepared films show interaction between PVA and NP. Film of PVA with 8 % concentration of NP was found to be better than other prepared samples. There is a decrease in optical band gap of prepared films with increase in concentration of NP. Morphological studies using AFM shows uniform grain structures of pure PVA and change in surface morphology with addition of NP. RMS roughness of PVA decreases with addition of 4 % and 8 % concentration of NP which could be due to more nucleation sites produced by NP. However RMS roughness of PVA increases for 12 % concentration of NP as compared to pure PVA. This could be due to agglomeration of NP