Reinforcement of structural, thermal and electrical properties and antibacterial activity of PVA/SA blend filled with hybrid nanoparticles (Ag and TiO2 NPs): Nanodielectric for energy storage and food packaging industries

In this work, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared using a plant extract which is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method. The sol-gel method was used to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). A solid polymer nanocomposite samples have been prepared via the well-known solution cast way. The present samples were examined using various analytical measurements. The XRD patterns showed a decrease in the degree of crystallinity of the PVA/SA blend due to the addition of the hybrid nanoparticles (Ag and TiO2 NPs). It was evident by the ATR-FTIR measurement that there is an interaction between the functional groups of the polymeric matrix and the hybrid nanoparticles. XPS confirmed that Ag NPs were loaded onto the surfaces of the PVA/SA/TiO2 organic-inorganic nanocomposite samples. The TGA curves of the doped samples showed an improvement in their thermal stability compared to the pure sample. From the AC conductivity and electrical modulus, the dynamic ions activity and the kind of relaxation process of the nanocomposites samples were examined. The highest conductivity was log-6.066 S/cm for the polymeric sample doped with 1.60% Ag@TiO2 NPs, as showed by the AC conductivity measurement. A wide dispersion is observed in the dielectric constant spectra at low frequency. It was also evident from the data that the antibacterial activity of the pristine PVA/SA matrix was growing due to the inclusion of the hybrid nanoparticles to the polymeric matrix. Therefore, the obtained results indicate the applicability of these samples and their potential for use in the semiconductor industry, portable electrochemical batteries and energy storage industry, due to the remarkable improvement in the structural, thermal and electrical properties. Also, the good antibacterial activity of these films provides new samples as effective biomaterials and has the potential to be used in the food packaging industry.

Automated summary

In this work, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method was used to prepare silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using a plant extract. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Solid polymer nanocomposite samples were prepared via a solution cast method. The results of various analytical measurements showed that the addition of hybrid nanoparticles (Ag and TiO2 NPs) resulted in decreased crystallinity, interaction between functional groups, and improved thermal stability and antibacterial activity. The obtained results indicate the applicability of these samples in the semiconductor industry, portable electrochemical batteries, energy storage industry, and food packaging industry.