Insight into the Influence of SnS<inf>2</inf>/Ni/Carbon Nanoparticles on the Functional Properties of PMMA Polymer

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymers, both undoped and doped with nickel-doped tin sulfide (Sn0.8Ni0.2S2) and with various weight percentages of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), were prepared using casting techniques. The structure, elemental analysis, morphology, and optical features of the obtained polymers were investigated using x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, fluorescence (FL), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Investigations were conducted to determine how SnS2/Ni and/or carbon nanoparticle content affects the optical properties of PMMA, including its energy band gap, refractive index, dielectric constant, linear first-order susceptibility, nonlinear third-order susceptibility, and nonlinear refractive index. The direct and indirect optical band gaps for PMMA decreased from (4.99, 4.4) eV to (4.09, 2.28) eV upon doping with SnS2/Ni and 0.25 wt.% CNPs. The effect of SnS2/Ni and/or CNPs on the frequency dependence of the dielectric properties was investigated. The FL intensity can be controlled to a desired limit by adjusting the SnS2/Ni and CNP concentrations in PMMA blends for different applications in optical devices. The emitted colors from each sample were found using the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram.