Novel approach to enhance the optical and electrical properties of polymer electrolytes using phenol red dye

Abstract

This article comprehensively analyzes how phenol red dye affects the optical, structural, and electrical properties of sodium bromide‐doped polymer electrolyte films based on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Conventional solution casting technique has been employed to prepare the electrolytes. The optical analysis reveals that incorporating the phenol red dye improves the optical properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to study the kind of complexation between the polymer and dopants. Scanning electron microscope micrographs of the electrolytes indicate the acquisition of free volume on the surface of the polymer matrix. The electrical properties are studied using impedance analyzer, which shows that the ionic conductivity increases when the dye is incorporated. The electrolyte system incorporated with 0.25 wt% of the dye exhibits the highest conductivity among the other systems. Photoluminescence investigation demonstrates that doping increases the intensity of the photoluminescence emission as it minimizes the free volume size. Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromatograph studies indicate that the doped samples emit a yellow color with a color purity of 97%. All in all, the findings imply that adding dye to the polymer matrix increases the electrical and visual characteristics of the polymer electrolyte.Highlights Phenol red dye improves the optical properties of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose‐based polymer electrolytes. Scanning electron microscope micrographs reveal the creation of free volume on the surface of electrolyte films. Analysis of electrical properties shows a slight increase in ionic conductivity with dye incorporation. Photoluminescence intensity increases with dye due to reduced free volume size. Doped samples emit 97% purity yellow enhancing electrical and optical properties.

Tailoring the optical properties of dye–polymer composite films based on polyvinyl alcohol doped with phenol red toward flexible optoelectronic applications

“…The increase in defect levels could also indicate a lower degree of crystallinity in the filled samples [42]. These results in consistent with previous examinations of PS filled with MnTPPCl [13], PVC/PMMA blend doped with TiO 2 NPs [43], CMC doped with BaNa/PR dye [8], PVP/NaAlg blend filled with MoO 3 nanoplates [44] and coronene-loading PVA polymer [7].…”

“…The absence of any IR peaks of PR dye after the filling process can be attributed to the complete dissolution of the dye inside the PVA polymer and the small percentages of it added to the polymer. This behavior is observed for the CMC polymer with salt, and phenol red dye [8]. A diagram demonstrating the potential interaction between polymer and PR dye is illustrated in scheme 2.…”

“…Also, an extra peak is seen at 573 nm at low content of PR dye and this band disappears completely at 1.6% PR concentration. These absorption bands of PR dye-inserted PVA polymer are owing to the π→π * orbital transitions of phenol red dye [8]. After PR dye-inserted PVA samples, the absorption bands boosted and shifted to the red region.…”

“…The reduction of energy gap values can be explained by phenol red contribution to changing the electronic structure of PVA polymer by generating numerous defect/polaronic levels that increase with the localized state density N(E) within the band gap structure [40,41]. Additionally, when PR dye concentration rises, the indirect and direct energy bandgap reduces, possibly as a result of improved coordination between the polymer's hydroxy groups and the cation of PR [8]. The increase in defect levels could also indicate a lower degree of crystallinity in the filled samples [42].…”

“…Phenol red (PR) is the most basic kind of sulfone phthalein; it is a water-soluble anion dye with the chemical formula (C 19 H 14 O 5 S). PR organic dye is a brilliant red, crystalline powder that is commonly employed in cell biology research, it is often used in cell culture to investigate pH variations [8]. We selected PR as an organic material because of its conjugated nature.…”