Effects of Nd2O3 Nanoparticles on the Structural Characteristics and Dielectric Properties of PVA Polymeric Films

Khulaif Alshammari; Thamer Alashgai; Alhulw H Alshammari; Mostufa M Abdelhamied; Satam Alotibi; Ali Atta

doi:10.3390/polym15204084

Effects of Nd₂O₃ Nanoparticles on the Structural Characteristics and Dielectric Properties of PVA Polymeric Films

Polymers (Basel). 2023 Oct 14;15(20):4084. doi: 10.3390/polym15204084.

Authors

Khulaif Alshammari¹, Thamer Alashgai¹, Alhulw H Alshammari¹, Mostufa M Abdelhamied², Satam Alotibi³, Ali Atta¹

Affiliations

¹ Physics Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.
² Charged Particles Lab., Radiation Physics Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo 13759, Egypt.
³ Department of Physics, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Neodymium (III) oxide (Nd₂O₃) were combined to synthesized flexible innovative PVA/Nd₂O₃ polymer composite samples utilizing a solution casting approach for use in dielectric devices. The XRD, FTIR, and SEM methods are all investigated to characterize the composite films. In a frequency of 50 Hz to 5 MHz, the effects of additive Nd₂O₃ on the dielectric behavior of PVA were recorded. The PVA/Nd₂O₃ composite films were successfully fabricated, as shown by XRD and infrared spectroscopy. The scanning microscopy pictures showed that the Nd₂O₃ was loaded and distributed uniformly throughout the PVA. After the incorporation of Nd₂O₃, the composite PVA/Nd₂O₃ has a conductivity of 6.82 × 10^-9 S·cm^-1, while the PVA has a conductivity of 0.82 × 10^-9 S·cm^-1. Another improvement is the decrease in the relaxation time from 14.2 × 10^-5 s for PVA to 6.35 × 10^-5 s for PVA/Nd₂O₃, and an increase in the dielectric constant of 0.237 for PVA to 0.484 at a frequency of 100 Hz. The results showed that the composite samples have considerable changes as flexible films in different applications, including batteries and electronic circuits.

Keywords: PVA/Nd2O3; dielectric properties; energy applications; structural investigation.

Grants and funding

DSR2022-NF-22/The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at Jouf University for funding this work through research Grant No. (DSR2022-NF-22).