Employment of ultrasonic irradiation for production of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/modified alpha manganese dioxide nanocomposites: Morphology, thermal and optical characterization.

This work explains the production, morphology, and features of novel nanocomposite (NC) established on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as polymer background and modified alpha manganese dioxide (α-MnO2 ) nanorod (NR) asan efficient filler. At first, one-dimensional α-MnO2 nanorods (NRs) were produced by a hydrothermal technique and then they were amended with stearic acid (SA) by a solvothermal process. In following, the NCs were made by adding different volumes of α-MnO2 -SA NR (1, 3 and 5wt%) in the PVP matrix through ultrasonic irradiation as a green, low-cost, fast, and useful technique. Structural and morphological descriptions confirm crystallinity of α-MnO2 -SA NRs and showed that NRs have been separately dispersed in PVP matrix with rod-like morphology and diameter of about 40-60nm. The use of modifier and ultrasonic waves is accountable for good homogeneities of NRs. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that thermal permanency of the obtained NCs has grown with increasing the α-MnO2 -SA content. Also, the UV-vis absorption of NCs was enhanced with the incorporation of the modified α-MnO2 NR in PVP matrix. The substantial perfections in NCs properties are associated to compatible intermolecular relations between the surface modifying groups of the α-MnO2 -SA and PVP chain.