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.