Improving the structural, optical, and electrical properties of carboxymethyl cellulose/starch/selenium oxide...

Nanocomposites based on biopolymers are interesting materials owing to their multifunctionality and ease of preparation. In this study, the solution casting method was used to mix selenium oxide nanoparticles (SeO₂ NP) made by a solvothermal method into a bio-blend of carboxymethyl cellulose and starch (CMC/St). XRD analysis showed that SeO₂ NP increased the amorphous portion inside the blend. HR-TEM revealed the spherical morphology of these NP with an average diameter of 16.88 nm. The FE-SEM indicated a satisfactory uniform distribution and homogeneity in the surface morphology of the films. FTIR confirmed the interaction between SeO₂ and the blend functional groups. The films preserved good transmission after doping, and their direct and indirect band gaps decreased. The refractive index, absorption index, optical conductivity, and other dispersion parameters were improved after SeO₂ loading. The DC conductivity of the blend is in the range of 3.8 × 10^-7 to 5.6 × 10^-4 S/m and improved after loading SeO₂ NP. The IV characteristic curves in the temperature range of 300-415 K were studied to figure out the conduction mechanism in the CMC/St/SeO₂ composites. Because the optical and electrical properties improved, these nanocomposites could be used for coatings and other things like waveguides, photovoltaic cells, and light-emitting diodes.