Structural and linear/nonlinear optical properties of PVC/ZnFe ₂ O ₄ nanocomposites for optoelectronic devices

Herein, ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (ZFO-NPs) were synthesized via the sol-gel method and doped into the PVC matrix by solution casting technique. This study aimed to examine the effects of PVC/ZnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites’ structural properties, dielectric constants, and linear/nonlinear optical characteristics at different concentrations of ZFO-NPs (0, 1, 2, and 3 wt.%). XRD pattern proved that the ZFO-NPs have a cubic crystal structure with a lattice constant of 8.5 Å and crystallite size of 39.97 nm. SEM image and EDX spectra were used to illustrate the surface morphology and elemental compositions of ZFO-NPs. The optical bandgap declined from 4.14 eV for the undoped-PVC to 4.05, 3.94, and 3.88 eV for PVC+1% ZFO, PVC+ 2% ZFO, and PVC+3% ZFO films, respectively. While Urbach’s energy (EU) rose from 0.82 eV to 1.77, 1.88, and 2.04 eV, respectively. It is found that the values of the free carrier increase after the introduction of the nano-ZFO from 2.61 × 10 14 cm −3 for the undoped-PVC polymer to 4.15 × 10 19 , 5.78 × 10 19 , and 6.21 × 10 19 for PVC+1% ZFO, PVC+ 2% ZFO, and PVC+3% ZFO, respectively. Furthermore, the optical mobility increases from 8.73 × 10 −4 c.s.kg −1 to 2.26 c.s.kg −1 . In contrast, the optical resistivity of the pristine PVC is 0.275, which decreases to 3.1 × 10 −9 , 4.78 × 10 −10 , and 2.72 × 10 −9 c −2 .s −1 kg −1 for the PVC+1% ZFO, PVC+ 2% ZFO, and PVC+3% ZFO, respectively. Moreover, the effect of ZFO-NPs on the nonlinear properties of PVC/ZnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites was addressed. Finally, the linear and nonlinear optical characteristics of doped-PVC with ZnFe 2 O 4 NPs make them suitable for electronic devices.