Influence of gamma irradiation on the structure and optical dispersion parameters of functionalized PVA films doped with silver nano-particles

PVA/H2SO4/Ethanol doped with Silver nano-composite films are prepared using in-situ reduction method. The fresh samples are irradiated to Gamma rays with doses 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kGy. The structural characterizations of as-prepared films are studied using XRD and UV absorbance techniques. The diffraction by X-ray revealed existence of Ag2O and Ag nano-particles, in the structural matrix of PVA, in the form of phase centered cubic structure. Furthermore, the fitted optical absorbance and measurements performed by HR-TEM illustrated that the embedded Ag nano-particles has a quasi-spherical shape with an average diameter ~25 nm. Furthermore, fitting the measured absorption coefficients revealed that the direct optical energy gap is the most probable transition. The wavelength at zero material dispersion showed an increase from 1.1578 μm up to 1.6410 μm against the irradiation dose. This means that nano-composites could be used to transmit optical data in low dispersion optical fibers. •PVA/H2SO4/Ethanol films doped with Ag nano-particles are prepared.•Structural changes of as prepared films due to irradiation with Gamma rays are studied using XRD and optical absorbance.•Fitting absorption coefficient using Elliot model revealed that the direct is the most probable transition.•Single oscillator strength, oscillator dispersion energy and lattice oscillator strength Optical factors are calculated.•Zero material dispersion and its corresponding wavelength are considered and discussed as a function of irradiation doses.