Synthesis and tuning the morphological and optical features of PS/SiO2–Sb2O3 promising hybrid nanomaterials for radiation shielding and futuristic optoelectronics applications

Abstract

The current work objects to develop of novel nanostructures fabricated from polystyrene (PS) doped with silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and antimony dioxide (Sb₂O₃) nanoparticles as promising hybrid nanomaterials that may be employed in advanced radiation shielding and optical applications. The morphological and optical properties of PS/SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ NCs were investigated. The results showed that the SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymeric matrix with uniformly distribution throughout the host polymer. The optical findings showed the absorption (A) of polystyrene was increased of 86% at wavelength (λ) = 300 nm, while the transmittance (T) decreased of 38% as the SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ ratio increased to 6.9 wt%. The energy gap (E_g) of pure PS decreased from 3.6 eV to 1.8 eV when the SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ nanoparticles ratio reached of 6.9 wt%. The optical constants (absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, optical conductivity, and real and imaginary dielectric constants of the PS/SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ nanostructures were improved with adding of SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ nanoparticles. The radiation shielding results showed that the attenuation coefficients were increased with increasing of SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ NPs concentration. Finally, the obtained results indicated that the PS/SiO₂–Sb₂O₃ films are promising nanostructures radiation shielding and futuristic optoelectronics applications.