Structural, Dielectric, and AC Conductivity Studies of Silver-Doped Zinc Oxide/Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this study, silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag-ZnO NPs) were synthesized via the hydrothermal method. The structural and chemical properties of the Ag-ZnO NPs were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface morphology and optical characteristics were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The Ag-ZnO NPs exhibit a spherical morphology with an average particle size of ~ 66.0 nm. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanocomposite films incorporating Ag-ZnO NPs in varying concentrations (1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 wt.%) were prepared using the solution-casting method. The influence of Ag-ZnO NPs concentration on the dielectric properties and AC conductivity of PVA was systematically investigated. The results indicate that inclusion of Ag-ZnO NPs improvesthe dielectric permittivity and loss up to a critical concentration (1.0 wt.%). Beyond this threshold limit a reduction in permittivity, dielectric loss, and AC conductivity was also observed. Polarizing optical microscopy further confirmed the optical transparency of the
nanocomposites, and its transparency is also affected by Ag-ZnO NPs.