A straightforward preparation and characterization of novel poly(vinyl alcohol)/organoclay/silver tricomponent nanocomposite films

In the present investigation, novel poly(vinyl alcohol)/organoclay/silver (PVA/OMMT/Ag) tricomponent nanocomposite (NC) films with different compositions were prepared by solution intercalation method under ultrasonic irradiation process. The NC films were obtained by mixing a colloidal solution consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) (3, 5, 7 and 9 wt%) with a water solution of PVA and OMMT (10 wt%) via solution casting method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to characterize the morphology and properties of the PVA/OMMT/Ag NC films. TGA confirmed that the heat stability of the nanocomposite was improved. The enhancement in the thermal properties of the hybrid materials was due to strong hydrogen bonding between OH groups of PVA, free acid functionalized groups of OMMT, and the Ag NPs. SEM and TEM results also showed that the OMMT and Ag NPs were dispersed homogeneously in the PVA matrix on nanoscale.