Structural, Thermal, and Electrical Properties of PMMA/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite Thin Film

ABSTRACT The solution growth technique was used to prepare thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite with varying mass percentages of ZnO. The structural, thermal, and electrical properties of pure PMMA and PMMA/zinc oxide nanocomposite thin films were investigated using various characterisation techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet‐visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermally stimulated discharge current (TSDC). The objective of this study is to explore the influence of ZnO nanoparticle loading on the structural, thermal, and electrical behaviour of PMMA nanocomposite thin films. The percentage crystallinity, average crystallite size, glass transition temperature ( T g ) and thermal stability changed considerably as the mass % of ZnO nanocomposite increased. The TSDC curve revealed that increasing the mass % of ZnO increases peak temperature, peak current, activation energy per molecule, released charge, relaxation strength, and relaxation time. These results demonstrate the potential of PMMA/ZnO nanocomposites in thermal management and dielectric applications. These can be used for sensors, semiconductor devices, and optoelectronic devices.