Effect of MnS/ZnS nanocomposite on the structural, linear and nonlinear optical properties of PVA/CMC blended polymer

Abstract

PVA/CMC blended polymers loaded with (1-x)MnS/xZnS nanocomposites were prepared applying the thermolysis and casting methods. The different phases developed in the nanofiller (1-x)MnS/xZnS, their percentages, structural, and microstructural parameters were determined utilizing x-ray diffraction data and Rietveld analysis. The integration and homogeneity of the nanocomposites fillers into the blend matrix was examined by x-ray diffraction measurements. The elemental composition and their percentages in different blends were confirmed using energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis. The surface morphology of different blends was examined using scanning electron microscope technique. The influence of nanofiller loading on the characteristics vibration bands of the blended polymer was examined using Fourier transform infrared technique. Utilizing UV–vis diffuse reflectance measurements, the changes in absorbance, reflectance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric function, optical conductivity, nonlinear optical parameters were determined showing improvements for different applications. Also, the changes in the intensity of fluorescence spectra and emitted colors were explored. The optical band gap of the pristine PVA/CMC blend, 5.49 eV, was reduced to 3.35, 5.03, 3.73, and 5.15 eV upon doping with (1-x)MnS-xZnS, x = 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75, respectively. The refractive indices of all blended polymers exhibited normal dispersions for wavelength range below 350 nm while above this range it revealed anomalous dispersion behavior.