Structural, optical, and dielectric properties of PMMA/PEO blend loaded with TiO 2 /V/TBAI

Abstract

Blended polymer films based on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly ethylene oxide (PEO), vanadium doped nano titanium dioxide (TiO2/V) and different amount of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) were formed by the sol gel and solution casting methods. Rietveld refinement for synchrotron x-ray diffraction was used to investigate structure and microstructure of TiO2/V sample. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed the incorporation of the fillers in the prepared blends. The degree of roughness of different films were explored using SEM technique. The effect of TiO2/V and TBAI doping on linear/nonlinear optical parameters, dielectric constant, electric modulus, energy stored and ac conductivity of PMMA/PEO blend was studied using diffused reflectance and LCR meter techniques. The blended polymer's direct and indirect band gaps (5.03, 4.96) eV shrank to (4.99, 4.64) eV as it loaded with TiO2/V and reduced further (4.33, 4.02) eV as it loaded with TBAI. At 500 nm, the refractive (n) value of undoped blend is 1.76 and blend with TiO2/V and 2.5 wt % TBAI has the highest n value (2.16) while blend with TiO2/V and 10 wt % TBAI has the lowest n value (2.06). The influence of doping on the emitted colors from each blend was explored using fluorescence technique and CIE diagram. The controllable optical and electrical features reveal that the PMMA/PEO with TiO2/V and TBAI blends could be potential optical materials in the advances of futuristic flexible-type optoelectronic devices.