Experimental study of PVA-PVP blend films doped with cadmium chloride monohydrate

Abstract

The microstructure and properties of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)-poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) blend films doped with cadmium chloride monohydrate (CdCl₂.H₂O) have been experimentally studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical, electrical and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques in the doping range from 0.5 wt% up to 45 wt%. The SEM images reveal the formation of self-grown nanostructures in the form of nano-spheres and nano-rods in the doping range from 0.5 wt% up to 2.2 wt%. The XRD reveals formation of additional sharp peaks superposed on the amorphous pattern of PVA-PVP blend. This is attributed to the crystalline nature of dopant induced nanostructures. AFM scans show spike-like structures due to the dopant and also an increase in surface roughness. At 35 wt% of CdCl₂, the surface of the film is smooth. The sample is found to be completely amorphous at 21.5 wt% and at higher doping levels, up to 45 wt%.