Functionalized recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastic by rare earth oxide for electronic device and housing infrastructure applications

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) was doped with Neodymium Oxide (Nd₂O₃: 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt.%) to investigate its structural, optical, dielectric, and mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that pure RPET exhibited an amorphous structure, while the incorporation ofNd₂O₃ induced the formation of crystalline phases, with crystallinity increasing as the Nd₂O₃ concentration increased. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified chemical interactions between RPET and Nd₂O₃, evidenced by a new band around 535 cm^-1. Optical analysis using diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a reduction in the band gap from 3.75 eV for pure RPET to 2.25 eV in 8wt.% doped samples, indicating enhanced optical properties. Dielectric studies revealed that Nd₂O₃ doping significantly decreased the dielectric constant of RPET, contributing to the thermal stability of the dielectric constant. Furthermore, the dielectric loss and conductivity improved, with enhanced stability observed across varying temperatures. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that adding 8 wt.% Nd₂O₃ reduced the storage modulus of RPET from 1.62 GPa to approximately 0.26 GPa at 35 °C, attributed to structural softening. These improvements suggest that Nd₂O₂-doped RPET is suitable for applications requiring conductive REPT, low storage modulus, thermal stability, and enhanced energy dissipation capabilities.