Synthesis and Characterization of CuO Nanoparticles and CuO Doped PVA Nanocomposites

CuO nanoparticles were synthesized by aqueous precipitation method and CuO doped PVA nanocomposites (1 wt, 2 wt, 3 wt, 4 wt and 5 wt) were prepared by solution casting method. The pellets of CuO nanoparticles and films of CuO doped PVA nanocomposites were used for electrical studies in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 5 MHz and in the temperature range of 303 to 338 K. The dielectric constant decreases while the AC electrical conductivity increases with increasing frequency and also with increase in temperature. XRD study confirms the crystalline nature of CuO nanoparticles and the average crystallite size is found to be around 8 nm. The peak widths in XRD pattern of PVA-CuO nanocomposites are broadened by incremental addition of CuO nanomaterials which implies an increase in the amorphous character of PVA-CuO nanocomposites that result in greater ionic diffusivity and high ionic conductivity. It is clear from UV-Vis spectral analysis that, increase in CuO concentration decreases the optical band gap from 4.978 eV to 3.03 eV. The FTIR (3700 - 650 cm^-1) spectra of nanocomposite films are observed with changes by the addition of CuO nanomaterials.