Tailoring the optical, and dielectric features of flexible PVC/ZnMn₂O₄/CuCo₂O₄/x wt% TMAI nanocomposite polymers for use in optoelectronics and capacitance storage applications

In this study, we used the solution casting process to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer nanocomposites incorporated with ZnMn₂O₄/CuCo₂O₄ (ZMCC) and different tetramethylammonium iodide (TMAI) quantities. The PVC/ZMCC/x wt% TMAI polymers were characterized with several analytical techniques; x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, UV–vis diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence (PL), and dielectric measurements. The results obtained from these techniques demonstrated an excellent interaction between the different fillers and the PVC matrix. The reflectance (R), transmittance (T), extinction coefficient (k), refractive index (n), optical dielectric constants, optical conductivity, energy loss functions and nonlinear optical parameters were analyzed. Upon composing with the fillers, T is reduced while A is enhanced for all composition ratios with minimum T and maximum A for the blend with 6 wt% TMAI. The optical energy gap declined from (4.29, 5.17) eV and (4.02, 4.79) eV to (3.04, 3.93, 5.01) eV and (2.43, 3.57, 4.22) eV for direct and indirect transition as the content of TMAI became 6 wt% in loaded polymer. Under varying excitation wavelengths, a blue-violet emission was observed in all the polymers. The effect of fillers on the dielectric constants, dielectric moduli, energy density, and AC conductivity were examined. The polymer with 6 wt% TMAI produced the highest AC conductivity, while the polymer with ZMCC has the highest capacitance. The Cole–Cole plot, obtained using a non-Debye technique, exhibited a semicircular shape. Hence, the improved optical and dielectric properties of the PVC/ZMCC/x wt% TMAI polymers nanocomposites suggest that these materials are suitable for smart electronic devices.