Urbach Energy Estimation of Biosynthesized CMC+PEG/Ag Nanocomposites for Improving Photocatalytic Activity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30526/39.3.4295Keywords:
Urbach energy, Optical properties, Green synthesis, Silver nanoparticle (Ag), Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Polyethylene glycol (PEG)Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (Ag) were filled at different ratios (6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36%) into a polymer matrix consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) using the solution casting method. The biopolymer (CMC) was prepared from rice husks (RH), which are locally available. AgNPs were prepared by green syntheses method using orange peel extract. Silver nanoparticles were calcined at 300°C for (1 hour) and filled into the polymer matrix (CMC+PEG) to determine their effect on the Urbach energy (Eu). The absorption coefficient and Urbach energy of the produced specimens were measured using a UV-Vis spectrometer at wavelengths ranging (200 to 1000nm). The results studied of specimens showed that the Urbach energy of the (CMC) polymer that was derived and extracted from rice husks (RH) is (Eu=0.7132ev), and (Eu=1.2096ev) for pure (CMC+PEG) polymer matrix, as for the (CMC+PEG/Ag) nanocomposite results the Urbach energy values raised from the (Eu=2.2393ev) to the (Eu=3.2733ev) when silver nanoparticles were filled into the (CMC+PEG) polymer matrix
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