Green blend nanocomposites developed from waste sericin, polyvinyl alcohol and boehmite for flexible electronic devices.

The present research article demonstrates the dispersion of boehmite (BHM) nanoparticles into sericin (SER) from silk industry waste with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance the optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics of PVA/SER blend nanocomposites prepared by a simple green synthesis. Techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out for the characterization of the prepared composites. XRD revealed the increased crystallinity of the polymer blend by the reinforcement of BHM. The existence of intermolecular interactions in the blend composite was confirmed by FTIR and UV spectroscopy. The optical bandgap energy of the biopolymer blend decreases with the inclusion of BHM. The SEM and HR-TEM confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of BHM in the blend at 5 wt% loading. The glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the blend nanocomposites were significantly improved by the inclusion of BHM was deduced from DSC and TGA. The dielectric constant and AC conductivity were remarkably increased with the reinforcement of nanoparticles. The activation energy obtained from AC conductivity decreased with temperature. The mechanical properties of the blend nanocomposites (hardness, tensile strength and Young's modulus) were greatly increased in presence of BHM. The 5 wt% sample has the highest tensile strength, Young's modulus, dielectric constant, AC conductivity and optical properties, allowing it to be used to make optoelectronic devices with better charge-storing capacity and flexible-type electrochemical gadgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]