Influence of argon irradiations on modifying the surface properties and optical behavior of polymer composite films

ABSTRACT

The composites PVA/CuO, which is made of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are created by the solution casting production process. The surface properties of the PVA/CuO composite were then altered using a cold cathode ion source for using these samples in optical devices. The PVA/CuO samples were exposed to argon fluencies of 3 × 10¹⁷, 6 × 10¹⁷, and 9 × 10¹⁷ ions.cm⁻². By raising the fluence from 3 × 10¹⁷ to 9 × 10¹⁷ ions.cm⁻², the contact angle is reduced from to 48.43° to 32.52°, while the work of adhesion increased from 119.93 mJ/m to a 132.86 mJ/m. Using the Wemple and Di-Domenico approach, the optical characteristics were computed. The absorption edge is reduced from 2.71 eV for PVA/CuO to 2.56, 1.99, and 1.82 eV, for the samples as exposed to 3 × 10¹⁷, 6 × 10¹⁷, and 9 × 10¹⁷ ions.cm⁻² respectively. And the Urbach tail changed from 1.3 eV for the pure film to 1.6, 1.66, and 4.23 eV, and the bandgaps decrease from 3.67 eV to 3.56 eV, 3.48 eV, and 3.32 eV. The obtained results shows the irradiated PVA/CuO films are more applicable for use in optical devices.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Lonization
• irradiation
• nanoparticles
• optical
• polymer

Acknowledgments

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2024R399), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University [PNURSP2024R399].

Notes on contributors

Reem Altuijri

Reem Altuijri, Assistant professor in Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.

A. Atta

A. Atta, Associate professor in physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

E. Abdeltwab

E. Abdeltwab, Assistant professor in physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

M. M. Abdelhamied

M. M. Abdelhamied, Assistant professor in Radiation Physics Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt.