Enhanced blue light emission in transparent ZnO:PVA nanocomposite free standing polymer films

• Cost effective flexible free standing nanocomposites films prepared at room temperature.
• Formation of nanocomposites was confirmed by XRD and UV analysis.
• Surface passivation induced enhanced blue emission were observed.
• Increase of decay time was observed in ZnO–polyvinyl alcohol polymer films.

ZnO:PVA nanocomposite films were prepared and their fluorescence and time resolved photoluminescence properties were discussed. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy results confirmed the ZnO:PVA interaction. Optical absorption spectra showed two bands at 280 and 367 nm which were ascribed to PVA and excitonic absorption band, respectively. Fluorescence spectra showed that the blue emission of ZnO was enhanced about tenfold through chemical interface electron transfer. The electron transfer from ZnO to PVA and its decay dynamics were experimentally analyzed through time resolved fluorescence measurements. The study revealed that the excited electrons found pathway through PVA to ground state which was slower than the pure ZnO nanoparticles.

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