Enhanced Surface Modulation of CNT and CN-PS Nanocomposites via Plasma Treatment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University

Abstract

New spectrally nanocomposite films of nano coatings have been developed to achieve high absorption performance. The polystyrene (PS) was dissolved in THF and blended with fixed concentrations of carbon nanotube and carbon nano (5% wt. CNT, 5% wt. CN, and 2.5% wt. CNT+CN) via the casting technique to make nanocomposite films. Polymer nanocomposite films have been developed to create an economical coating that reinforces the poly (styrene) matrix. The coating exhibits high absorptivity; the optical properties computation was conducted within a wavelength range of 250-1350 nm at a room temperature of 30 °C. The transmittance and reflectance were decreased, skin depth and optical density were increased, and the absorbance coefficient and dielectric constant were increased. The direct and indirect energy gap (E_g) of the films has decreased from 2.8 to 2.4 eV and from 3.4 to 2.9 eV after adding CNT with CN. The Urbach energy (E_u) has increased from 1.24 to 2.71 eV. The XRD test confirms that the films had amorphous structures. The SEM analysis was used to show the surface morphology of thin films. Consequently, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements indicated an increase in surface roughness (SR) from 5.19 to 14.5 nm for the doped PS thin films, and the root mean square (RMS) roughness increased from 6.65 to 16.6 nm. These modified PS nanocomposite thin films find potential applications in various industries, including air transport components, light-emitting diodes, laser sensors, UV energy shielding, light-harvesting devices, memory devices, and light-conversion technologies.

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Main Subjects

Progress in Color, Colorants and Coatings

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 October 2025

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