article · BMC Chemistry
Manganese dioxide nanoparticles have been integrated into a polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol blend using a solution casting method. Tests evaluated concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 weight percent to examine changes in material structure and optical behaviour. Analysis confirms that the polymer maintains its semi-crystalline matrix while forming strong interfacial chemical bonds with the nanoparticles. Microscopy shows uniform nanoparticle dispersion at lower concentrations, though agglomeration emerges as the concentration increases. Optically, the addition of the nanoparticles enhances light absorption, raises the refractive index, and narrows the band gap from 4.27 electronvolts down to 4.00 electronvolts. These results show that very low quantities of manganese dioxide can adjust the optical performance of the polymer blend without degrading its underlying structural integrity, creating adaptable materials for further technical development.
Adjusting how materials absorb and transmit light is essential for developing advanced electronic components. By showing that minute additions of manganese dioxide can precisely tune the optical band gap and refractive index without damaging the host polymer blend, this research offers a straightforward formulation strategy for designing flexible, responsive composite materials.
The abstract points to prospective applications in flexible optoelectronics, sensors, and energy storage devices. This represents early-stage materials research, focused on formulation and laboratory characterisation via solution casting. Commercial uptake would interest manufacturers of optical sensors or flexible electronics, but transition to market requires device prototyping, durability testing, and scalable manufacturing validation.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Manganese Dioxide (MnO 2 ) nanoparticles were incorporated into a Polyacrylamide/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PAM/PVA) polymer blend via solution casting to investigate the influence of MnO 2 content (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) on the composite’s structural and optical behavior. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating that the incorporation of very low MnO 2 concentrations effectively modifies the optical properties of the PAM/PVA blend while preserving its structural integrity through strong interfacial interactions, providing an efficient strategy for tuning polymer nanocomposite performance. X-ray diffraction confirmed the semi-crystalline nature of PAM/PVA blend and successful incorporation of MnO 2 nanoparticles without altering the polymer matrix, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated strong interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and MnO 2 surface species, suggesting the presence of chemical bonding and modified local electronic environments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy- dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping demonstrated uniform nanoparticle dispersion at low concentrations and the emergence of agglomeration at higher concentrations, with corresponding changes in surface morphology. UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated progressively enhanced absorption and a systematic reduction in the optical band gap from 4.27 eV (pristine) to 4.00 eV (1 wt.%MnO 2 ), accompanied by an increase in the refractive index. The tunable optical response of PAM/PVA–MnO2 nanocomposites highlights their potential for applications in flexible optoelectronics, sensors, and energy storage devices.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13065-026-01910-1
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