Applied Chemical Engineering

Preparation and Modification of the Structural and Optical Characteristics of PVA/Bi2O3-CuO Nanocomposites for Radiation Attenuation

Aseel Saad Ibrahim

Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq

Ali R. Abdulridh

Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i3.5968

Keywords: PVA, Nanocomposites, Structural properties, Optical properties, (Bi2O3/CuO) nanoparticles, Gamma Shielding

---

Abstract

This study focuses on the fabrication of advanced nanocomposite films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), reinforced with bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃)/copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles at total filler loadings of 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.% relative to the PVA matrix, using a controlled solution casting technique. This method makes sure that the nanoparticles are spread out equally throughout the polymer matrix. This makes the material stronger and better at blocking gamma radiation. It is also light, flexible, and beneficial for the environment. Visual microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy ‎investigations exhibited substantial consistency in nanoparticle dispersion, indicating the absence of large agglomerations. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) further substantiated the notable physical interactions between the nanoparticles and the PVA polymer molecules. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies demonstrated that both Bi₂O₃ and CuO existed in their pure phases. The PVA films, on the other hand, remained semi-crystalline, which meant that the nanoparticles had been successfully incorporated to the structure. Optical tests showed that the absorbance went up a lot, reaching 93.73%. The transmittance dropped to 79.03% at a wavelength of 300 nm. The prohibited energy gap shrank from ‎‎3.9 eV to 2.0 eV, and the optical energy gap shrank from 4.0 eV to 2.7 eV. The nanoparticles' ability to generate concentrated energy levels inside the energy gap is responsible for this change. The (N/N₀) ratio for protecting against radiation dropped from 0.975 for pure polymer to 0.835 for a 40% weight concentration. This suggests that the radiation protection only worked about 17.81% of the time. The results show that the (PVA/ Bi₂O₃-CuO) composites work well to improve optics and block gamma radiation. This means that they can be utilized for many things, including as medicine, optics, and flexible shielding. They are also safer and better for the environment than items that contain lead.‎

---

References

[1]. AL-Issawe, J.M., Habeeb, M.A., Abdulridha, A.R.: Preparation and Modulation of the Morphological, Structural, Electrical, Dielectric and Linear/Nonlinear Optical Characteristics of PVA-PVP/SiC-Bi2O3 Nancomposites for Energy Storage Devices and Radiation Attenuation. Silicon. 17, 3279–3308 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-025-03414-4

[2]. Kadhim K. Kadhim, Halah Mohammed Azeez, Reem Tuama Yousif, Musaab Khudhur Mohammed, Mohanad H. Meteab: Boosting the structural, optical and AC electrical characteristics of PVA/CdTe nanocomposites for flexible smart optoelectronic devices. Int. J. Nanoelectron. Mater. 18, 527–536 (2025). https://doi.org/10.58915/ijneam.v18i4.2617

[3]. Pattadakal, S., Ghatti, V., Chapi, S., G., V., Kumarswamy, Y.K., Raghu, M.S., T., V.G., Nandihalli, N., Kasai, D.R.: Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites Reinforced with CuO Nanoparticles Extracted by Ocimum sanctum: Evaluation of Wound-Healing Applications, (2025)

[4]. Ghatti, V., Chapi, S., Kumar Kumarswamy, Y., Nandihalli, N., Kasai, D.R.: Strontium-Decorated Ag2O Nanoparticles Obtained via Green Synthesis/Polyvinyl Alcohol Films for Wound Dressing Applications, (2025)

[5]. Hadi, A.N., Meteab, M.H., Mohammed, M.K.: Influence of Inclusion Sb2O3/NiO Nanostructures on the Morphological, Microstructural, and Optical Characteristics of PVA Polymeric for Gamma-Ray Shielding Applications. Rev. des Compos. des matériaux avancés. 35, 581–591 (2025). https://doi.org/10.18280/rcma.350319

[6]. Suhail, H.S., Abdulridha, A.R.: Investigation of the Morphological, Optical, and D.C Electrical Characteristics of Synthesized (Bi2O3/ZnO) Nanocomposites, as Well as Their Potential Use in Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Sensor. Trans. Electr. Electron. Mater. 24, 205–216 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42341-023-00436-w

[7]. Habeeb, M.A., Hadi, A.H.: Exploring the Optical Properties of BaTiO3/CuO-Nanoparticles-Doped PVA Polymer for Optoelectronic Applications. Nanosistemi, Nanomater. Nanotehnologii. 22, (2024). https://doi.org/10.15407/nnn.22.03.687

[8]. Hassan, H.B., Hashim, A., Abduljalil, H.M.: Tailoring structural, optical characteristics of CuO/In2O3 nanoparticles-doped organic material for photodegradation of dyes pollutants. Polym. Bull. 80, 9059–9075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04502-w

[9]. Hamed, Y., Din, K.S., Harb, S., Elnobi, S.: Effect of Pb3O4 nanocomposite on the structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of PVA Films. Sci. Rep. 15, 38104 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22740-6

[10]. Channe, S.S., Singh, R., Kulkarni, S.G.: Effect of metal oxide nanoparticles on thermal behavior of polyvinyl alcohol. Polym. Bull. 81, 3403–3438 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-023-04858-7

[11]. Li, J., Wu, B.Z., Zhou, Z.X.: Morphology control and optical properties of Bi2O3 crystals prepared by low-temperature liquid phase method. Micro Nano Lett. 13, 1443–1446 (2018). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1049/mnl.2018.5179

[12]. Bajpai, N., Tiwari, A., Khan, S.A., Kher, R.S., Bramhe, N., Dhoble, S.J.: Effects of rare earth ions (Tb, Ce, Eu, Dy) on the thermoluminescence characteristics of sol–gel derived and γ-irradiated SiO2 nanoparticles. Luminescence. 29, 669–673 (2014). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/bio.2604

[13]. Rajesh, K., Crasta, V., Rithin Kumar, N.B., Shetty, G., Rekha, P.D.: Structural, optical, mechanical and dielectric properties of titanium dioxide doped PVA/PVP nanocomposite. J. Polym. Res. 26, 99 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-019-1762-0

[14]. El-Nagar, H., El-Sadek, M.S.A., Ibrahim, E.M.M., Elnobi, S.: Structural and optical properties of SnO nano-filler in eco-friendly PVA polymer for flexible optoelectronic applications. Sci. Rep. 15, 30614 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14376-3

[15]. El-Nagar, H., Abd El-sadek, M.S., Ibrahim, E.M.M., Elnobi, S.: Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on structural and linear/nonlinear optical properties of PVA/TiO2 films for flexible optoelectronic devices. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 36, 1148 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-025-15152-9

[16]. Song, T., Yu, C., He, X., Lin, J., Liu, Z., Yang, X., Zhang, Y., Huang, Y., Tang, C.: Synthesis of magnetically separable porous BN microrods@Fe3O4 nanocomposites for Pb(II) adsorption. Colloids Surfaces A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 537, 508–515 (2018). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.10.060

[17]. Sheehab, N.T., Hashim, F.S., Al-Bermany, E., Obaid, A.N., Abdali, K., Alkhayatt, A.H.O.: Performance of TiO2-SiC nanomaterials on morphology and sorption behavior of PVA-PEG-based nanocomposites for UV-applications and antibacterial efficacy. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects. 42, 101479 (2025). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101479

[18]. Rezvanpour, M., Hasanzadeh, M., Azizi, D., Rezvanpour, A., Alizadeh, M.: Synthesis and characterization of micro-nanoencapsulated n-eicosane with PMMA shell as novel phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Mater. Chem. Phys. 215, 299–304 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.05.044

[19]. Meteab, M.H., Hashim, A., Rabee, B.H.: Synthesis and Structural Properties of (PS–PC/Co2O3–SiC) Nanocomposites for Antibacterial Applications. Nanosistemi, Nanomater. Nanotehnologii. 21, 451–460 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15407/nnn.21.02.451

[20]. Ghazi, R.A., Sabur, D.A., Mousa, Z.H., Habeeb, M.A., Alkarosh, S.A.: Preparation and Tuning the Structural and Optical Properties of PVA/CuO-In2O3 Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic and Antibacterial Applications. Rev. des Compos. des matériaux avancés. 35, 791–801 (2025). https://doi.org/10.18280/rcma.350501

[21]. Zhu, D., Wang, L., Yu, W., Xie, H.: Intriguingly high thermal conductivity increment for CuO nanowires contained nanofluids with low viscosity. Sci. Rep. 8, 5282 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23174-z

[22]. Beshkar, F., Sabur, D.A., Albahadly, W.K.Y., Lafta, H.A., Kubaisy, M.M.R.A.L., Salavati-Niasari, M.: Novel FeVO4/CuS heterojunction nanocomposite as a high-performance visible-light-active photocatalyst for ibuprofen degradation in aquatic media. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy. 47, 39841–39852 (2022). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.137

[23]. Habeeb, M.A., Oreibi, I., Hamza, R.S.A., Mamoun, F.: Fabrication and Unraveling the Morphological, Structural, Optical and Dielectric Features of PMMA-SiO2/CuO Promising Ternary Nanostructures for Nanoelectronic and Photonic Applications. Silicon. 16, 5947–5960 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-024-03131-4

[24]. Merino, D., Gutiérrez, T.J., Mansilla, A.Y., Casalongué, C.A., Alvarez, V.A.: Critical Evaluation of Starch-Based Antibacterial Nanocomposites as Agricultural Mulch Films: Study on Their Interactions with Water and Light. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 6, 15662–15672 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04162

[25]. Habeeb, M.A., Mahdi, S.M.: A comprehensive study on morphological, structural, optical, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of polyvinyl alcohol/tantalum carbide—silicon dioxide nanocomposites for flexible energy storage devices. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 36, 351 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-025-14431-9

[26]. Sahib, S.R., Rabee, B.H.: Production of a versatile PMMA/PEO-CuO-In2O3 nanocomposite with its characterization, cold plasma treatment, and applications for flexible emission filter devices and smart moisture. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects. 40, 101382 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoso.2024.101382

[27]. Aslam, M., Kalyar, M.A., Raza, Z.A.: Fabrication of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets doped PVA composite films for tailoring their opto-mechanical properties. Appl. Phys. A. 123, 424 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-017-1035-x

[28]. Henaish, A.M.A., Abouhaswa, A.S.: Effect of WO3 nanoparticle doping on the physical properties of PVC polymer. Bull. Mater. Sci. 43, 149 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-020-02109-3

[29]. Hashim, A., Hadi, A., Al-Aaraji, N.A.-H., Rashid, F.L.: Fabrication and Augmented Structural, Optical and Electrical Features of PVA/Fe2O3/SiC Hybrid Nanosystem for Optics and Nanoelectronics Fields. Silicon. 15, 5725–5734 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02471-x

[30]. Sahib, S.R., Rabee, B.H.: Synthesizing, characterizing, and cold plasma treating of Cr2O3/CuO nanomaterials doped PMMA/PEO for flexible optoelectronic applications. Opt. Mater. (Amst). 157, 116139 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2024.116139

[31]. Kadhim, W.K., Habeeb, M.A.: Synthesis and tailoring the morphological, structural and optical characteristics of SiO2–CO2O3 nanomaterials doped PVA–PEG for optoelectronic and food packing applications. Opt. Quantum Electron. 56, 1346 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-024-07275-w

[32]. Mahfoudh, N., Karoui, K., BenRhaiem, A.: Optical studies and dielectric response of [DMA]2MCl4 (M = Zn and Co) and [DMA]2ZnBr4. RSC Adv. 11, 24526–24535 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA03652A

[33]. Mireles, L.K., Wu, M.-R., Saadeh, N., Yahia, L., Sacher, E.: Physicochemical Characterization of Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone: A Tale of Two Polyvinyl Pyrrolidones. ACS Omega. 5, 30461–30467 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04010

[34]. Fal, J., Bulanda, K., Traciak, J., Sobczak, J., Kuzioła, R., Grąz, K.M., Budzik, G., Oleksy, M., Żyła, G.: Electrical and Optical Properties of Silicon Oxide Lignin Polylactide (SiO2-L-PLA). Molecules. 25, 1354 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25061354

[35]. Jabber, A.A., Abdulridha, A.R.: Preparation and Characterization of CuO/ZnO Nanostructures Thin Films using Thermal Evaporation for Advanced Gas Sensing Applications. Trends Sci. 22, 9002 (2025). https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2025.9002

[36]. Faiza, Khattak, A., Alahmadi, A.A., Ishida, H., Ullah, N.: Improved PVC/ZnO Nanocomposite Insulation for High Voltage and High Temperature Applications. Sci. Rep. 13, 7235 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31473-3

[37]. Ahmed, G., Hashim, A.: Synthesis and Tailoring Morphological and Optical Characteristics of PMMA/PEG/Si3N4 Hybrid Nanomaterials for Optics and Quantum Nanoelectronics Applications. Silicon. 15, 7085–7093 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02572-7

[38]. Jabber, A.A., Abdulridha, A.R.: Role of ZnO-doping concentration on CuO thin film for promising NH3 gas detectors application by a thermal vaporization method. Int. J. Nanoelectron. Mater. 18, 571–585 (2025). https://doi.org/10.58915/ijneam.v18i4.2646

[39]. Fadil, O.B., Hashim, A.: Fabrication and Tailored Optical Characteristics of CeO2/SiO2 Nanostructures Doped PMMA for Electronics and Optics Fields. Silicon. 1–8 (2022)

[40]. J. Kadham, A., Hassan, D., Mohammad, N., Ah-yasari, A.H.: Fabrication of (Polymer Blend-magnesium Oxide) Nanoparticle and Studying their Optical Properties for Optoelectronic Applications. Bull. Electr. Eng. Informatics. 7, 28–34 (2018). https://doi.org/10.11591/eei.v7i1.839

[41]. Hashim, A.: Enhanced morphological, optical and electronic characteristics of WC NPs doped PVP/PEO for flexible and lightweight optoelectronics applications. Opt. Quantum Electron. 53, 478 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-021-03100-w

[42]. Sami, N.A., Nattah, A.M., Jawad, R.A., Meteab, M.H., Mohammed, M.K.: Modification and Enhancement of The Structural, Morphological and Optical Characteristics of PMMA/In2O3/SiO2 Promising Ternary Nanostructures for Optical Nanodevices and Gamma Ray Attenuation. Trends Sci. 22, 9959 (2025). https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2025.9959

[43]. Abdulsalam, H.S., Hashim, A., Mohammed, M.K.: Production and tailoring the morphological and optical features of PS/SiO2-In2O3 futuristic films for optoelectronics and radiation shielding applications. Ceram. Int. 51, 14328–14336 (2025). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.01.269

[44]. Obaid, W.O., Hashim, A., Rabee, B.H.: Manufacturing and Ameliorating the Morphological, Structural and Optical Features of PVA-CS/SiO2-TaC Futuristic Nanostructures for Radiation Shielding and Photonics Applications. J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. Mater. 35, 10346–10359 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-025-03926-x