Probing optical efficiency and electrochemical behaviors of polycarbonate incorporating conducting PANI and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as core–shell nanofillers

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 79; no. 11; pp. 10333 - 10355
• Main Authors: Shivanna, Shashikala Badaga, Al-Gunaid, Murad Q. A., Al-Ostoot, Fares H., Al-Zaqri, Nabil, Boshaala, Ahmed, Siddaramaiah, Anasuya, S. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Capacitance; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Contact angle; Dyes; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy storage; Fourier transforms; Microscopy; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Physical Chemistry; Polycarbonate resins; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Radiation; Soft and Granular Matter; Solvents; Specific energy; Spectrum analysis; Thermal stability; Japan; India; Specific capacitance; Core–shell (PANI + HNTs); PC; Conversion efficiency
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-022-04141-1

Herein, a new type of nanocomposite (NC) films has been prepared based on polycarbonate (PC) impregnated by core–shells (PANI + HNTs) via intercalated method for enhancing specific capacitance, optical, photocatalysis and photovoltaic efficiency. For this target, optical parameters, electrochemical specific capacitance/energy, power of photocatalyst to degradation MG dye and photovoltaic performance of PC/(PANI + HNTs) NCs were investigated. The PC-NCs showed thermal stability over 450 °C. Optical band gap of PC-NC reduced to 2.87 eV. Specific capacitance raised to 51.24 F/g as well as specific energy increased to 130.94 J/g of PC-NCs, which higher by 2.5 folds compared to pure PC. The photocatalyst PC/4%(PANI + HNTs) film exhibited faster photodegrading of MG dye, where around 98.2% of MG dye was degraded within 44 min under sunlight. This film showed high activity at different pH (3, 7 and 9) as well as high performance and stability for five sequential reuses. The optimized photocatalytic PC/4%(PANI + HNTs) NC in KI/I 2 electrolyte exhibits significant improvement in photovoltaic activity. The power conversion efficiency of NC film around 8.01% compared to 1.91% for pure PC under 60 mW/cm 2 illuminations. These findings denote the PC/(PANI + HNTs) NC films can be adjustable for used in photocatalysis, optically and energy storage devices.