Synthesis and Exploring Structural and Optical Properties of Ternary PS/SiC/Sb2O3 Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic and Antimicrobial Applications

• Published in: SILICON 2023-07, Vol.15 (11), p.4979-4989
• Main Authors: Al-Sharifi, Nawras Karim, Habeeb, Majeed Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimony trioxide; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electronic components; Energy gap; Environmental Chemistry; Field emission microscopy; Inorganic Chemistry; Klebsiella; Lasers; Materials Science; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Optical Devices; Optical microscopes; Optical properties; Optics; Optoelectronic devices; Photonics; Polymer films; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Polystyrene resins; Refractivity; Silicon carbide; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 1876-990X; 1876-9918
• DOI: 10.1007/s12633-023-02418-2

The development of a wide range of technologically cutting-edge flexible mille- to micro-sized electronic components/devices are currently driving a significant industrial demand for polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). Employing the solution casting approach, we have created hybrid nanocomposite films using polystyrene (PS) as the host matrix and antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) and silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles (0,2,4,6., and 8) wt% as fillers in the PNCs materials' advancements. The morphology of the nanocomposite was examined using an optical microscope (OM), which demonstrated that polystyrene is exceptionally miscible due to its finer form and smooth, homogeneous surface, as well as the additive concentration SiC and Sb 2 O 3 NPs, which are evenly distributed on the surface of the polymer nanocomposite film. The surface morphology of (PS/SiC/Sb 2 O 3 ) films is revealed by field emission scan electron microscope (FE-SEM) to be uniform and coherent, with a significant amount of aggregates or fragments randomly dispersed over the top surface. The results of the optical properties for (PS/SiC/Sb 2 O 3 ) nanocomposites demonstrated that the absorbance, coefficient of absorption, index of refractive, coefficient of extinction, and conductivity of optical of (PS/SiC/Sb 2 O 3 ) nanocomposites rises with rising of SiC/Sb 2 O 3 NPs, while the transmittance decreased. The optical energy gap decreased from (4.19 eV to 2.69 eV) and from (3.5 eV to 1.45 eV) for allowed and forbidden indirect transition respectively when concentration reaches 8 wt.%. The decreases in optical energy gap and increases in refractive index brought on by the inclusion of SiC/Sb 2 O 3 NPs point to the possibility of their usage in optoelectronic devices. By raising the SiC/Sb 2 O 3 NPs ratio in polystyrene, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus microorganism inhibition zone values rose to 24 and 25 mm. According to experimental findings, the nanocomposites have excellent antibacterial action. Finally, the results indicate that the PS/SiC/Sb 2 O 3 nanocomposites can be widely use as recyclable catalysts for reducing organic dyes in wastewater treatment as well as an antibacterial agent for use in medical and environmental applications.