Structural, optical and electrical conduction characteristics of PMMA/PVAc/TBAI blended polymers

This study aims to create tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (TBAI) doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) blended polymers for utilize in a diversity of optoelectronic applications. By the casting technique, the films of (PMMA/PVAc/x wt % TBAI) were formed. The structure and morphology characteristics of the blended materials were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The optical transmittance declined to a minimum value when the blend was loaded with 38 wt % TBAI. The blend containing 38 % TBAI exhibits the highest reflectance values in the visible range. The lowest direct optical bandgap energies (4.20 eV) and indirect optical bandgap energies (3.71 eV, 3.13 eV) were achieved when TBAI reached 38 wt%. The addition of TBAI leads to an enhancement of the refractive index values of PMMA/PVAc in the visible spectrum. The effect of TBAI doping amount on the optical dielectric constant, energy loss functions, optical conductivity, nonlinear optical parameters and emitted color of the host blend was explored. The maximum values of the optical dielectric constant and energy loss functions were achieved after the TBAI level reached 38 wt%. The three non-linear optical (NLO) parameters for PMMA/PVAc blended polymers were enhanced as the amount of TBAI increased. An increase in voltage (V) or temperature results in a significant increase in electric current (I). Raising the amount of TBAI doping also caused the electric current to rise irregularly, with the exception of the blend with x = 11 %, where it fell. The samples exhibited the non-ohmic characteristics of the current-voltage (I–V) properties. The conduction mechanism of all blended materials was studied in detail. Finally, the outcomes supported the optical and electric properties studies, which suggested that a range of nanoelectronics applications could make use of the PMMA/PVAc/x weight percent TBAI blended polymers. •The surface of the blends displayed varying morphology depending on the quantity of TBAI present in the blends.•As the concentration of TBAI increased, the optical band gap values consistently decreased.•Optoelectronics and optical devices are prime candidates for PMMA/PVAc materials whose refractive index n can be tuned by TBAI doping.•The system most likely exhibits the Poole-Frenkel emission mechanism except for blends with x = 11 % at temperatures between 333 and 334 K and x = 27 % at 353 K.