Employment of ultrasonic irradiation for production of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)/modified alpha manganese dioxide nanocomposites: Morphology, thermal and optical characterization

Abstract

This work explains the production, morphology, and features of novel nanocomposite (NC) established on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as polymer background and modified alpha manganese dioxide (α-MnO₂) nanorod (NR) as an efficient filler. At first, one-dimensional α-MnO₂ nanorods (NRs) were produced by a hydrothermal technique and then they were amended with stearic acid (SA) by a solvothermal process. In following, the NCs were made by adding different volumes of α-MnO₂-SA NR (1, 3 and 5 wt%) in the PVP matrix through ultrasonic irradiation as a green, low-cost, fast, and useful technique. Structural and morphological descriptions confirm crystallinity of α-MnO₂-SA NRs and showed that NRs have been separately dispersed in PVP matrix with rod-like morphology and diameter of about 40–60 nm. The use of modifier and ultrasonic waves is accountable for good homogeneities of NRs. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that thermal permanency of the obtained NCs has grown with increasing the α-MnO₂-SA content. Also, the UV–vis absorption of NCs was enhanced with the incorporation of the modified α-MnO₂ NR in PVP matrix. The substantial perfections in NCs properties are associated to compatible intermolecular relations between the surface modifying groups of the α-MnO₂-SA and PVP chain.