Tuning of refractive index of poly(vinyl alcohol): Effect of embedding Cu and Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

In this article, we have reported the results of our measurements, related to the tuning of the refractive index of the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer on embedding Cu and Ag nanoparticles at different concentrations. The size distribution and dispersion behaviour of embedded nanoparticles within PVA have been studied through transmission electron microscopy. A systematic increase in refractive index of PVA on increasing the concentration of embedded nanoparticles has been observed. These results have been tried to be explained using Bhar and Pinto model based on the Lorimar's theory for polymer composites. The values of refractive index of these nanocomposites have also been calculated using the Lorentz-Lorenz effective medium theory and found to be in close agreement with the experimental data. Nanoparticles embedded induced modifications in the structure of PVA have been revealed through FTIR spectroscopy.