In order to potentiate implementations in optical energy applications, flexible polymer composite films comprising methyl cellulose (MC), polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully fabricated through a cast preparation method. The composite structure of the fabricated film was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, indicating a successful incorporation of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have indicated a homogenous loading and dispersion of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend. The optical parameters such as band gap (Eg), absorption edge (Ed), number of carbon cluster (N) and Urbach energy (Eu) of pure MC polymer, MC/PANI blend and MC/PANI/Ag films were determined using the UV optical absorbance. The effects of AgNPs and PANI on MC polymer linear optical (LO) and nonlinear optical (NLO) parameters including reflection extinction coefficient, refractive index, dielectric constant, nonlinear refractive index, and nonlinear susceptibility are studied. The results showed a decrease in the band gap of MC/PANI/AgNPs compared to the pure MC film. Meanwhile, the estimated carbon cluster number enhanced with the incorporation of the AgNPs. The inclusion of AgNPs and PANI has enhanced the optical properties of the MC polymer, providing a new composite suitable for energy conversion systems, solar cells, biosensors, and nonlinear optical applications.

In this work, a solution cast technique was used to prepare flexible nanocomposite films of PVA/PANI/Ag with different concentrations of PANI and AgNPs. The samples were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and infrared spectroscopy, which confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanocomposite films. After that, the PVA/10%PANI/6%Ag nanocomposite film was irradiated by different influences of the oxygen ion beam (8 × 1017, 16 × 1017, and 24 × 1017 ions/cm2). The Ac conductivity, dielectric properties, electric modulus, complex impedance behaviour, and the energy density efficiency of the non-irradiated and irradiated films were measured in the frequency range of 100–106 Hz. The results revealed significant changes in these parameters with an increase in concentrations of PANI and Ag nanoparticles inside the host and also with ion beam irradiation. The reported improvements in this study would open the road for appropriating the unirradiated and irradiated nanocomposite films for electromagnetic shielding and optoelectronic applications.