Novel polyvinyl alcohol based Cr(iii)–Sn(iv) doped In(iii) nitrate composite foam: synthesis, unit cell formulation and structure

Abstract

Nanoscale ordered structures of semiconductors are highly demanding in today's research world for their special optical, electrical and magnetic properties. As a general trend, the inorganic moiety is encapsulated in the PVA host. Encapsulation of the hydrated nitrate of Cr(III), In(III) and Sn(IV) in the crystalline PVA matrix leads to a novel ultra-light, porous and well-structured composite foam material at 100 °C. This is an entirely new composite foam material of inorganic polymer of Sn(IV) and Cr(III) doped In(III) compound in the polymeric chain of PVA. The photoluminescence spectrum confirms atactic-PVA. The structural stability of PVA in the composite foam has been determined by the degree of hydrolysis and the viscosity average molecular weight. FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS absorption, elemental and XRD analyses elucidate the unit cell formulation and structure of the composite foam. The microstructural characterizations (SEM, FESEM and HRTEM) explain the porous and branching morphological features.