ABSTRACT
The intrinsic conducting polymer (ICP) Polypyrrole (PPy) was grown in situ in the matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using chemical oxidative polymerization method. The effect of in-situ growth of PPy on structural, morphological, thermal and dielectric properties of PVA-CMC blend films were investigated. Growth of PPy in the matrix of PVA-CMC was seen in SEM micrographs along with structural modifications which were confirmed by XRD and FT-IR analysis suggesting the amorphous nature of PVA-CMC-PPy blend films. Thermal analysis suggests good miscibility and compatibility of the polymers in the blend. The changes in the dielectric properties of in-situ-grown conducting polymer blend films of PVA-CMC-PPy were studied in detail at low frequency (100 Hz to 2 MHz) . Enhancement in the dielectric constant and ac conductivity values of PVA-CMC- PPy films were observed in this frequency range that is related to increased amorphousness and formation of conductive channels due to the presence of PPy. Further, the microwave absorption and dielectric behavior of PVA-CMC-PPy films in high-frequency region (200 MHz – 20 GHz) were specially studied to see the suitability of these films for EMI shielding application.
Graphical abstract
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Acknowledgments
Authors are thankful to KIRAN Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi for the financial assistance provided through WOS-A project SR/WOS-A/PM-44/2017. Experimental facilities developed using financial assistance provided through DST-FIST (Level- I) and DRS (SAP) program have been utilized to carry out this work and it is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are also thankful to Dr. Mukesh Ranjan, Scientist Officer-F, Institute of Plasma Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat for help extended to take XRD and SEM data. The extended support of Prof. Rakesh Raval, Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Science, Gujarat University for the utilization of ATR FT-IR facility is also acknowledged.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Sushma Jha
Sushma Jha working as a Women Scientist-A on DST funded project at the Department of Physics, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad (India). My area of research is polymer blends and composites, microwave frequency dielectric studies of polymer blends.
Vaishali Bhavsar
Dr.Vaishali Bhavsar working as Associate Professor and Head, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, Chief Coordinator, Sal College of Engineering Sal EducationAhmedabad, Gujarat. The area of research is dielectric studies of polymer blends and composite film.
Deepti Tripathi
Prof. Deepti Tripathi working as Professor at Department of Physics, Electronics and Space Science, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad (India) The area of research is Semiconductor Electronics and Microwave Dielectrics.