Co2O3 Nanofiller-Based Polymer Blend Nanocomposites for Enhanced Optical Properties for Optoelectronics Devices and as a Model of Antibacterial

Abstract

Using the solution casting method, (PVA-PVP-Co2O3) nanocomposites were created, with various weight percent ratio of (Co2O3) nanoparticles (0, 1.6, 3.2, 4.8, and 6.4) wt. %. In this study, nanoparticles of cobalt oxide form a continuous network in polymers with a high concentration of cobalt oxide, according to optical microscope at (6.4 wt. %), SEM reveals the surface morphology of (PVA-PVP-Co2O3) films to be uniform and coherent, with a large number of aggregates or pieces randomly scattered on the top surface. The optical properties of films were investigated, the results of this investigation revealed that the absorption coefficient, absorbance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant, and optical conductivity all increased with the growing in the weight percentages of the various components (Co2O3), while the transmittance is reduced as the concentration of (Co2O3) increase. The optical energy gap of (PVA-PVP-Co2O3) nanocomposites was found from 4.58 eV for (PVA-PVP) blend to 3.82 eV for allowed indirect transition and from 4.03 eV to 3.21 eV for forbidden indirect transition when the (Co2O3) ratio reached (6.4 wt.%), and these results may be as key to employ the (PVA-PVP-Co2O3) nanocomposites in various photonics fields and optoelectronics devices .