CuO nanoellipsoids for superior physicochemical response of biodegradable PVA

Abstract

PVA nanocomposites comprising of nanoparticles of CuO were prepared and their various physicochemical properties were evaluated. CuO with its impressive array of mechanical, optical, dielectric and hydrophilic properties as well as environmental friendliness is expected to augment the properties of the PVA matrix. The strong interaction between the polymer matrix and the nanofillers was confirmed via XRD and FT-IR investigations. The thermal stability and the mechanical strength of the polymer membranes indeed showed notable improvements in the composites. Thermal conductivity also increased to an extent beyond the theoretical prediction. The dielectric constant of the nanocomposite film was about 2 times higher than that of the pure PVA membrane. The high optical transparency of the PVA membrane also was not compromised with the inclusion of nanosized CuO particles.