Optical performance appraisal of mechanically flexible and visibly clear PVP-PVA/calcium doped zirconium oxide nanocomposites for UV shielding applications

Herein, we report the successful development and optical performance evaluation of mechanically flexible, optically clear and UV-shielding poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) - poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) (50:50) nanocomposite (NC) thick films, containing 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 Wt% calcium doped zirconium oxide (CaZrO3) nanofillers. The solution combustion synthesized nanofillers and aqueous solution casted NCs were characterized for their gross structural, micro-structural, surface morphological, mechanical and optical properties, with special emphasis on UV-shielding performance. Consequently, electronic spectral studies were employed to investigate the optical changes in PVP-PVA films, that emerge due to doping with CaZrO3 nanofillers. While, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to probe the surface morphological changes. Similarly, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the molecular interactions of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), while Powder X-ray Diffraction (P-XRD) technique was employed to validate the changes in their micro-structural properties. Finally, tensile measurements and photo-catalytic degradation studies with indigo carmine (C16H8N2Na2O8S2) established the ability of PVP-PVA/CaZrO3 NCs for possible applications as mechanically flexible UV protective materials. The, UV-transilluminator measurements validated the principle associated with the observed UV shielding behaviours to be nanofiller/polymer synergism induced UV to visible photonic down-conversions.

Automated summary

The study reports the successful development of a mechanically flexible, optically clear, and UV-shielding nanocomposite material by incorporating calcium-doped zirconium oxide nanofillers. Various characterization techniques were employed to evaluate the structural, micro-structural, surface morphological, mechanical, and optical properties of the nanocomposite, with a focus on UV-shielding performance. The nanocomposite showed potential for applications as mechanically flexible UV protective materials, with UV-shielding behaviors attributed to nanofiller/polymer synergism inducing UV to visible photonic down-conversions.