Fabrication and Adapting the Morphological, Structural, Optical and Dielectric Performance of PS-ZrC-SiO2 Nanocomposite Films for Optoelectronic and Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to enhance the structural, optical, and electrical properties of (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) nanostructures by creating thick coatings of polystyrene. By using the casting procedure, (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) nanocomposite films are created. Compared to pure (PS), optical microscope pictures show that the (ZrC-SiO₂) nanoparticles form an ongoing network inside the polymer. Peak location, peak form, and peak intensity are all changing, according to FTIR. Optical experiments showed that when (ZrC-SiO₂) nanoparticle ratios were raised to (5 wt%), the absorbance of (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) nanocomposites rose from 45 to 97%. In the meantime, for the allowed and prohibited indirect transitions, respectively, the energy gap of (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) PNCs reduced from (4.01 to 2.11) eV and from (3.29 to 1.95) eV. These results may have implications for the use of (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) nanostructures in various nanotechnology and optical applications. In furthermore, there will be a rise in the optical parameters absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, real and imaginary dielectric constants, and optical conductivity. As the frequency of the supplied electrical field increases, the dielectric loss (ε″) and dielectric constant (ε′) for nanocomposites decrease, but they rise as the percentage of nanoparticles (NPs) increases. The dielectric constant and A.C. electrical conductivity (σ _a.c) rise by approximately 132% and 95%, respectively, when the content of (ZrC-SiO₂) reaches 5 wt% at a frequency of 100 Hz. The results of the pressure sensor application demonstrate that, in comparison to other sensors, the (PS-ZrC-SiO₂) nanostructures have better environmental durability, extraordinary flexibility, and remarkable pressure sensitivity; it reaches 72.07 at the highest addition rate. In light of the findings, PS-ZrC-SiO₂ nanostructures are attractive materials for a variety of optoelectronic nanodevices because doping PS with (ZrC-SiO₂) NPs improved the optical, structural, and A.C electrical characteristics. Practically it can be used in pressure electrical sensor.