Investigating the morphological properties of poly (lactic acid)/gadolinium oxide and poly (lactic acid)/yttrium oxide nanocomposite films for optical applications

Pure poly(lactic acid) PLA inherits flame retardancy, anti-UV, antibacterial, antistatic to conductive electrical characteristics. By the addition on nano-particles (np’s) forecasts attractive methodology of enhancing various properties possessed by neat PLA. This study explores an innovative approach to advancing the comparative analysis of the optical properties of (PLA) nanocomposite films that incorporate metal oxides (Gadolinium Oxide (Gd₂O₃) and Yttrium Oxide (Y₂O₃)). PLA nanocomposites were produced using a blending and coagulation process with chloroform as the solvent, while the metal oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through co-precipitation. These nanoparticles were embedded into the PLA matrix at varying concentrations (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%). The crystalline structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of the materials were thoroughly examined. Characterization of the nanoparticles via XRD, SEM–EDS, and FT-IR confirmed their well-defined crystalline structure. The peak values obtained with high intensity in XRD patterns at 2θ = 29° and 28° confirmed the cubic crystalline structure of both Gd₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. The PLA-metal oxide nanocomposites were analyzed using FT-IR, SEM–EDS, and XRD for morphological studies. These studies confirmed the uniformity in the distribution of np’s across PLA matrix and the orthorhombic α-crystalline phase's (110) and (200) planes of PLA nanocomposites determined the XRD patterns obtained. Their optical characteristics were evaluated through photoluminescence and UV–visible spectroscopy. Both the nanocomposites possess a broad bandgap (~ 5 eV) and excellent UV absorption characteristics, making them effective UV-blockers and the intensity in the blue-green range of PL, which makes them appropriate for uses like fluorescence-based sensors and bioimaging. The enhanced optical performance of the composites is attributed to the formation of a saturated network within the PLA matrix. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and production of high-performance polymer-nanoparticle composites with tailored properties for applications such as fused deposition modeling (FDM).