Comparison of optical properties of PAN/TiO2, PAN/Bi2O3, and PAN/SbSI nanofibers

The aim of the study was to prepare PAN nanofibers reinforced by TiO2/Bi2O3 nanoparticles and SbSI nanowires as well as to investigate their morphology and optical properties. The polymer and composite nanofibers were obtained using the electrospinning method from PAN/DMF solutions doped by nanofillers. The investigations of the influence of process parameters on the morphology of the obtained fibrous mats were carried out on the basis of their images of surface topography obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The incorporation of semiconductor nanofillers on the surfaces and in the volume of PAN nanofibers was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Spectral investigations of diffusive reflectance and transmittance have been used to determine the absorption as well as the scattering coefficients of the PAN, PAN/TiO2, PAN/Bi2O3, and PAN/SbSI nanofibers. Mechanisms of absorption and energy gaps of the investigated materials have been determined.