The effect of gamma irradiation on structural, optical, and dispersion properties of PVA/Zn0.5Co0.4Ag0.2Fe2O4 nanocomposite films

Herein, this work aims to unveil the influence of gamma irradiation with different doses on structural, optical, and dispersion properties of PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films. The Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via the sol–gel method and PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films were assembled via the solution casting technique. The XRD patterns proved the successful preparation of PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films. Also, the EDX and FTIR spectra confirmed the elemental composition and functional groups of the pristine and irradiated PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films. The energy gap decreases by increasing the irradiation doses of 25 to 50 kGy and then increases at the irradiation dose of 75 kGy, indicating that the gamma radiation induces the PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films to degradation. Also, the Urbach’s energy increases from 3.37 eV for pristine PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite film to 5.46 eV in the irradiated PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite film with 25 kGy. Besides, a noticeable effect of γ -irradiation on the oscillator energy and the dispersion energy has been detected. Further, the static dielectric constant decrease with the increase in the gamma irradiation doses. Furthermore, the volume and surface loss energies were increased with the increase in the dose of radiation. Overall, the optical and dispersion properties of irradiated PVA/Zn 0.5 Co 0.4 Ag 0.2 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposite films make them suitable materials for optoelectronic devices and in photocatalytic applications.