Effect of nanostructured metal oxides (CdO, Al2O3, Cu2O) embedded in PVA via Nd:YAG pulsed laser ablation on their optical and structural properties

The physiochemical properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) film was enhanced by embedding with nanostructured metal oxides (CdO, Al2O3, and Cu2O) via one-pot and green method, nanosecond Nd:YAG pulsed laser ablation in liquids technique (PLAL). This process was carried by ablation of metal targets (cadmium, copper, and aluminum) immersed in PVA solution by high intensity pulsed laser in the focusing condition. The enhancing of the PVA properties were appeared by studying the structure, optical and morphology of the prepared films before and after embedding by several technique as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Visible, Photoluminescence (PL), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). From structural investigation, the XRD patterns showed a reduction of CdO, Al2O3, and Cu2O nanoparticles within PVA chain. From optical investigation, the interaction and the structural modifications occurred between PVA chains and each metal oxide nanoparticles appeared in stretching vibration bands, the optical energy band gap (Eg) values by using Tauc equation equaled to 2.33, 3.63, and 3.54 eV for the oxide of Cd, Al, and Cu, respectively, are a good agreement with previous work, and the Photoluminescence spectra showed decreasing in emission intensity in the case of embedding with metal oxides. From morphological investigation, the FE-SEM images showed a homogeneous distribution with spherical shape of metal oxides through the polymer of PVA. The qualitative and semi-quantitative elemental analysis of the prepared samples via EDX technique confirmed the embedding of the metal oxide in the PVA structure. This work helps to open the route to produce various properties of PVA by embedded with different nanostructured metal oxides. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.