Characterization of the incorporated ZnO doped and co-doped with Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ nanophosphor powders into PVC polymer matrix

Zinc oxide (ZnO) undoped, doped and co-doped with Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ were synthesized by the chemical bath deposition method. The nanopowders were spread through a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer matrix via the solution casting method to prepare nanocomposite films. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed crystalline peaks corresponding to a hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure. Scanning electron microscope showed aggregated structures. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy respectively revealed the existence of the expected elemental composition and functional groups. Differential scanning calorimetry showed nanoparticles as the starting point for particle growth. Thermogravimetric analysis showed lowering in thermal stability of the nanocomposites. In the UV–vis study, PVC had the highest energy band gap than all powder and composite systems. The PVC nanocomposites showed an emission peak at around 444 nm, which differed from that of the nanopowders. The chromaticity diagram showed emission colours changed to the blue vertex regions for nanocomposite.