Abstract
Undoped and doped with nano-ZnO (Zn0.9X0.1O, X = Co, Cu and Mn) blended polymers (70% polyvinyl alcohol/30% polyvinyl pyrrolidone) were formed using solid-state reaction and casting methods. X-ray diffraction measurements were used to examine the incorporation of the nanofiller into the polymer matrix. Rietveld analysis showed an average crystallite size of 20 nm for ZnO with a little change upon doping Co, Cu, or Mn. The variations in the absorbance, extinction coefficient, refractive index, direct optical band gap energy, the single-oscillator energy, the oscillator strength and static refractive index of the blend with the nanofiller were studied in detail. The optical bandgap of the pristine blend, 4.97 eV, was reduced upon doping reaching a minimum of 4.82 eV for pure ZnO. The obtained values of electric characteristics and nonlinear optical properties are affected by the kind of dopant and the value of wavelength used. The reduction obtained in the optical band gap can nominate the doped blended polymers to be used as an absorbing layer in a solar cell to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Also, the enhancement of the nonlinear parameters nominates them to be applied in different nonlinear optical and photonic applications. The emitted fluorescence spectra depended on the excitation wavelength and the kind of dopants.