Thermal, mechanical, and AC electrical studies of PVA–PEG–Ag2S polymer hybrid material

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 2904 - 2917
• Main Authors: Devangamath, Shruti S., Lobo, Blaise, Masti, Saraswati P., Narasagoudr, Shivayogi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Degree of crystallinity; Dielectric properties; Electrical resistivity; Elongation; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Optical and Electronic Materials; Polyethylene glycol; Polymer blends; Polymer films; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Silver nitrate; Sodium sulfide; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Thermogravimetric analysis
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-019-02835-3

Polymer hybrid films were prepared by solution casting technique, using polyvinyl alcohol–polyethylene glycol (PVA–PEG) blend host matrix as the organic component and Ag
2
S (in-situ formed) as the inorganic component. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed the increased flexibility of polymer hybrid films, when compared to pure PVA–PEG blend film. Thermal stability of the hybrid film PPS3 (with AgNO
3
:Na
2
S ratio equal to 3.0 ml: 1.5 ml) which has uniformly distributed Ag
2
S nanostructures is more, when compared to other hybrid films, as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Polymer hybrid film PPS1 (with AgNO
3
:Na
2
S ratio equal to 1.0 ml: 0.5 ml) which has uniformly distributed Ag
2
S microstructures shows increased values of tensile strength and percentage elongation at break. The presence of Ag
2
S nanoparticles in PPS3 film has increased the overall toughness of the corresponding hybrid film. The highest bulk conductivity equal to 1.43 × 10
–5
Sm
−1
is observed for PPS4 film (with 4.0 ml: 2 ml ratio of precursors), which has a comparatively lower degree of crystallinity and porous structure. Impedance spectroscopy studies reveal that Ag
2
S filler, in its micro and nano forms, can substantially improve the AC conductivity and dielectric properties of PVA–PEG polymer blend (loaded with Ag
2
S).