Optical Enhancement of Blending Reduced Graphene Oxide with Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposite

In this study, we present findings on the optical, structural, and dielectric properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-doped poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposites. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive investigation of optical transparency and band structure parameters across various rGO nanosheet concentrations within the PVA polymer. Several techniques are employed to examine the morphological, structural, and optical properties of the prepared nanocomposites including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The optical bandgap of the nanocomposites was determined, in addition to the refractive index, optical dielectric constants, and optical conductivity of pure rGO, pure PVA, and rGO-doped PVA nanocomposites. SEM analysis presented detailed imaging of the morphological structure of the nanocomposites. Raman spectroscopy exhibited a decrease in D-band intensity accompanied by an increase in crystalline size, and a decrease in G-band intensity with a lower La, revealing a variation in crystalline size from 35.33 nm to 12.24 nm. The dielectric constant verified an increase with the rise in rGO content at a particular frequency. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the optical properties of rGO-doped PVA nanocomposites could suggestively advance the expansion of more efficient and cost-effective materials for many optical applications. As research progresses, these nanocomposites are prospective to play an essential role in the advancement of technologies such as flexible electronics, smart sensors, and next-generation photonic devices.