Fabrication and conductivity study of silver nanoparticles loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-AgNPs) nanofibers

Abstract This work is focused on the preparation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) nanofibers (PVA/AgNFs) by electrospinning technique. Different characterizations were carried, the formation of AgNPs were confirmed by UV–visible absorption study with SPR band at 428–433 nm. Functional groups present in the samples were determined by FT-IR analysis. XRD analysis indicated the semi crystallinity of the samples and FCC structure of the AgNPs. SEM study was carried to determine the surface morphological study of the samples and also gives the size of nanofibers around 57 nm to 104 nm. TEM images revealed the non-spherically shaped AgNPs with average size 37.63 nm are uniformly distributed in the nanofiber. Thermal stability of the samples were studied by TGA and DSC analysis showed increased thermal stability for PVA/AgNFs. The electrical conductivity of the samples was investigated and showed good conductivity results.