Synthesis and Characterization of Flexible PVC/CeO₂ Nanocomposite Films: Electrical Conductivity and the Effects of Ion Beam Irradiation on Surface Wettability

Abstract

In this study, flexible PVC/CeO₂ films were successfully fabricated using chemical casting method by incorporating cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles into a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix. The morphological and structural characteristics of the prepared composites were investigated using SEM, and EDX analyses, confirming the successful dispersion and incorporation of CeO₂ within the PVC matrix. The electrical properties were evaluated over a wide frequency range (10 Hz–6 MHz), revealing a significant enhancement in conductivity. The conductivity changed from 1.79x10-12 S/cm for PVC to 1.67x10-11 S/cm, 1.44x10-11 S/cm, and 3.07x10-11 S/cm respectively for PVC/0.02CeO₂, PVC/0.04CeO₂, and PVC/0.06CeO₂. The surface properties were further tailored using ion beam irradiation through contact angle measurements. The results demonstrated that ion beam irradiation plays a crucial role in altering the surface wettability of the composites. The water contact angle decreased from 65.25° for PVC/6%CeO₂ to 47.75° for irradiated PVC/CeO₂ by 12x1016 ions.cm-2, and the surface free energy increased from 43.79 to 59.01 mJ/m². The combined effect of CeO₂ incorporation and ion beam irradiation significantly improves the electrical conductivity, and surface characteristics of PVC films, making these composites promising materials for flexible electronic systems.