Structural and optical modifications in gamma-irradiated polyimide/silica nanocomposite

The structural and optical properties of thin films of polyimide composites with nanosilica particle content of 15 wt%, prepared via sol-gel process, were studied as a function of the gamma dose. The resultant effect of gamma irradiation on the properties of polyimide/silica nanocomposite has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and UV spectroscopy. Absorption and reflectance spectra were collected by a spectrophotometer giving UV-radiation of wavelength range 200-800 nm. The optical data obtained were analyzed and the calculated values of the optical energy gap exhibited gamma dose dependence. The direct optical energy gap for the nonirradiated polyimide/silica nanocomposite is about 2.41 eV, and increases to a value of 2.65 eV when irradiated with gamma doses up to 300 kGy. It was found that the calculated refractive index of the polyamide/silica increases with the gamma dose in the range 50-300 kGy.