Study of optical UV absorption and optical band gap determination of polyaniline with CuO

Abstract

The optical characteristics and optical band gap of polyaniline (PANI) composites with copper oxide (CuO) are the main subjects of the investigation. CuO is a copper oxide with semiconducting qualities, while polyaniline is a conductive polymer with potential uses in electronics, sensors, and optoelectronic devices. It is anticipated that the combination of these materials will result in composite structures with improved optical qualities. In order to investigate the optical absorption behaviour of PANI/CuO composites in the UV region, UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was used to synthesise the materials using chemical oxidative polymerisation. The PANI/CuO composite's optical absorption spectra showed notable UV absorption, indicating the material's potential for use in optoelectronic applications. Tauc's graphic, which demonstrated a straightforward band gap transition, was used to calculate the optical band gap from the absorption data. According to the research, adding CuO changed polyaniline's band gap, improving its electrical characteristics and increasing the material's suitability for photovoltaic and photocatalytic uses. The addition of CuO greatly reduces the optical band gap of PANI, a property that may be tailored for certain applications by altering the CuO level in the composite, according to the findings. This research highlights the promise of PANI/CuO composites in improving materials design where control over optical characteristics and band gap is essential, such as in energy harvesting, UV detection, and optoelectronics.