Enhanced structural, optical, electrical properties and antibacterial activity of PEO/CMC doped ZnO nanorods for energy storage and food packaging applications

The zinc oxide nanorods (ZnONRs) have been successfully prepared via sol-gel way. A series of Poly(ethylene oxide) and Carboxymethyl cellulose (PEO/CMC) blend samples filled with different concentration of ZnONRs were prepared using casting method. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image showed that the synthesized ZnONPs had a diameter in the range of 29.29 to 59.09 nm. These samples were characterized by different analytical techniques. On the basis of results obtained from XRD and FT-IR analysis, blends are miscible. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy exhibited the complexation between PEO/CMC blend and ZnONRs. The optical energy gap was calculated using the UV/vis. data. The maximum value of AC conductivity for the pure blend was 1.98 x 10(-7) S.cm(-1), and by raising the filling of ZnONRs increased to 3.26 x 10(-6) S.cm(-1) at highest concentration. After the added of ZnONRs, an improvement for the dielectric constant (epsilon ') and dielectric loss (e) of PEO/CMC are detected. These samples can be employment in the semiconductor industries and portable electrochemical batteries, electric vehicles and grid energy storage, due to the noticed enhancements in optical, and AC conductivity. PEO/CMC/ZnONRs films were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria have been tested. The excellent antimicrobial activity of these films provides a novel and simple way for the synthesis nanocomposites as functional biomaterials and has the possibility for usage in food packaging applications.

Automated summary

Zinc oxide nanorods were successfully prepared via sol-gel method and filled into polymer blend samples. The filled nanorods improved the optical and AC conductivity properties of the samples, and exhibited good antimicrobial activity. These materials have potential applications in the semiconductor industry and energy storage field.