Abstract
Chitosan-based polymeric films doped with La
2
O
3
nanoparticles at various weight percentages (5, 10, 15 and 20 La
2
O
3
/CS) were developed by the simple solution cast transformation. The structural features of those nanocomposite films were studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. FTIR spectra exhibited the major characteristic signals of chitosan (CS) that were shifted noticeably as a result of the chemical interaction with La
2
O
3
molecules. SEM images exhibited a noticeable morphological variation in the surface of CS, which is attributed to surface adsorption with La
2
O
3
nanoparticles. Moreover, the XRD pattern revealed that there is an obvious enhancement in the CS crystallinity upon the interaction with metal oxide nanoparticles. Refractive index as an optical parameter, energy bandgap and absorption coefficient for the CS–La
2
O
3
composite were considered and compared with the native CS film.