article · Physica Scripta
Flexible polymeric films of polyvinyl alcohol doped with Sudan IV azo dye at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.8 weight per cent were synthesised using a casting technique. Structural analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed clear interactions between the dye and polymer matrix, highlighted by the appearance of new vibrational peaks. Optical evaluations demonstrated that the addition of the dye produced new absorption peaks at 518 and 357 nanometres, whilst decreasing both the direct and indirect bandgaps. Refractive index measurements showed standard dispersion behaviour between 850 and 2500 nanometres, aligning with the Wemple-DiDomenico model. Crucially, the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility increased significantly from pure polyvinyl alcohol to the composite with the highest dye concentration, alongside measurable nonlinear refractive index values.
Developing materials with tunable optical and nonlinear properties is essential for advancing photonics and light-based technologies. By demonstrating how low concentrations of an azo dye alter the optical bandgap, light absorption, and nonlinear optical behaviour of flexible polymer films, this study offers baseline data for designing functional materials with customisable optical characteristics.
The findings suggest potential applications in photonics and nonlinear optics, which may interest manufacturers of optical materials and components. At this stage, however, the research is early-stage laboratory characterisation. The abstract does not report device integration, durability testing, or manufacturing scalability, indicating that significant practical development and testing are necessary before commercial use can be considered.
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Abstract Flexible polymeric film composites consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Sudan IV azo dye (Su-IV) were synthesized using a casting method. Despite the known optical properties of PVA and azo dyes individually, the combined effects of Su-IV doping in PVA on the material’s optical and nonlinear optical properties have not been thoroughly investigated. This study addresses this gap by exploring the interactions between PVA and Su-IV at various doping concentrations (0.1–0.8 wt%) and their subsequent impact on the material’s structural and optical characteristics. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to identify distinct vibrational groups within the composites, revealing that the incorporation of Su-IV induced random deviations in most absorption intensities compared to pristine PVA. Notably, new peaks at 519 and 444 cm −1 emerged, intensifying with increasing Su-IV concentrations, indicating significant interactions between the composite constituents. The optical properties were analyzed through transmittance and reflectance measurements, which uncovered new absorption peaks at 518 and 357 nm in PVA/Su-IV composites. These peaks correspond to electronic energy transitions of 2.4 and 3.6 eV, respectively, and their intensities increased with higher Su-IV content. Additionally, the indirect and direct bandgaps were decreased as Su-IV concentrations increased. The refractive index (n) analysis showed typical dispersion behavior between 850 and 2500 nm, aligning with the Wemple-DiDomenico (WDD) model. Furthermore, the oscillator parameters were calculated. Also, the nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ (3) ) was boosted from 4.19 × 10 −6 for pure PVA to 3.60 × 10 −4 for the sample with 0.8 wt% Su-IV. The nonlinear refractive index (n 2 ) was also measured at 8.55 × 10 −2 for the doped sample. These findings demonstrate the potential of PVA/Su-IV composites for applications in nonlinear optics and photonics.
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DOI: 10.1088/1402-4896/ad79a2
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