Abstract
This communication demonstrates the potentials of hybridizing (or modifying) poly (vinyl alcohol)/starch composite with magnetite nanoparticle (PVA/St-MNP) to prepare semiconductor and photoconductor polymeric films. The collection of materials composing the newly prepared composite demonstrated satisfactory electrical and photo conductivity and photo sensitivity for optoelectronic applications. The films were prepared with varied contents of magnetite nanoparticles via a solution mixing and casting evaporation method. The structures and morphological surfaces of the films were assessed using FTIR, TGA/DSC, SEM and XRD. The conductivity behavior and light response of the prepared composite films were studied. The current density was also studied for the film samples with different concentrations of MNPs at different applied fields. The current density was found to be dependent on both the field and the MNP content. The results showed a high photo sensitivity of the composite films towards white light. The photo sensitivity of the prepared film samples was found to increase with increasing the MNP content, and reached 14 at 1300 lx for the film containing 12% MNP. The dependence of photoconductivity on light intensity confirmed the existence of traps in the composite films. The life time and differential life time of the pure polymer and composite blends were determined to be within the range 0.67-0.78 and 3.7-457 S. respectively, by studying the transient photoconductivity.