STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY (VINYL ALCOHOL) (PVA)/ ZIRCONIUM OXIDE (ZRO2) COMPOSITE FILMS

Nanocomposite membranes of ZrO2-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with varying amounts of ZrO2 nanoparticles (1, 2, 3 and 5 wt%) have been prepared via a solution casting technique. The ZrO2 nanoparticles are used as a filler synthesized by sol–gel technique. Effects of ZrO2 nanoparticles doping on composites morphological, structural and optical characteristics have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,. The XRD studies confirm the successful incorporation of ZrO2 into the PVA matrix and showed improved crystallinity following the doping of ZrO2 in PVA. The UV–visible studies of nanocomposite films show an enhancement in absorption intensity and a slight red shift in peak positions as the ZrO2 concentration increases. The enhancement in absorption intensity suggests the potential applications in filters and solar cells.