Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Structural, Optical, and Electronic Properties of PVC/BiVO4/ZnO Nanocomposite Films

This study investigated the impact of gamma irradiation on PVC/BiVO ₄ /ZnO nanocomposite films. The films were synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized using various techniques, including XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, EDX, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Gamma irradiation was found to induce significant changes in the structural, optical, and electronic properties of the nanocomposite films. XRD analysis revealed a decrease in crystallinity and an increase in amorphous content with increasing irradiation doses. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of new chemical bonds and the degradation of existing functional groups. The optical bandgap of the nanocomposite films decreased with increasing gamma irradiation, as evidenced by the redshift in the transmittance spectra and Tauc plot analysis. This suggests changes in the electronic structure of the material. Additionally, the disorder parameter and Urbach energy increased, indicating an increase in disorder within the nanocomposite films. These findings demonstrate that gamma irradiation can effectively modify the properties of PVC/BiVO ₄ /ZnO nanocomposite films, potentially enabling their application in various fields such as photocatalysis, sensors, and optoelectronic devices. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and optimize the properties of these materials for specific applications.