Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Optik journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijleo Original research article An in-depth investigation in photoconductivity of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Starch/Magnetite nanoparticle composite films for optoelectronic applications Adel A. El-Zahhar a,b , I.M. Ashraf c,d, *, Abubakr M. Idris a,e , M.F. Sanaa d a Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia b Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo P.C. 13759, Egypt c Physics Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia d Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt e Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, Abha 61413, P.O. Box 9004, Saudi Arabia ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Poly(vinyl alcohol) Magnetite nanoparticle Photoconductivity Photoconductive polymer ABSTRACT This communication demonstrates the potentials of hybridizing (or modifying) poly (vinyl al- cohol)/starch composite with magnetite nanoparticle (PVA/St-MNP) to prepare semiconductor and photoconductor polymeric films. The collection of materials composing the newly prepared composite demonstrated satisfactory electrical and photo conductivity and photo sensitivity for optoelectronic applications. The films were prepared with varied contents of magnetite nano- particles via a solution mixing and casting evaporation method. The structures and morpholo- gical surfaces of the films were assessed using FTIR, TGA/DSC, SEM and XRD. The conductivity behavior and light response of the prepared composite films were studied. The current density was also studied for the film samples with different concentrations of MNPs at different applied fields. The current density was found to be dependent on both the field and the MNP content. The results showed a high photo sensitivity of the composite films towards white light. The photo sensitivity of the prepared film samples was found to increase with increasing the MNP content, and reached 14 at 1300 lx for the film containing 12% MNP. The dependence of photo- conductivity on light intensity confirmed the existence of traps in the composite films. The life time and differential life time of the pure polymer and composite blends were determined to be within the range 0.67–0.78 and 3.7–457 S. respectively, by studying the transient photo- conductivity. 1. Introduction Due to their advanced physical, chemical and biological properties, the development of polymeric nanocomposite materials have gained wide attention for the applications of water treatment [1], corrosion inhibition and electronic devices [2]. The form and concentration of nanomaterials being involved into polymers composites and interaction between nanomaterial and polymer define the way they can be applied and their performance efficiency. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) Fe 3 O 4 are well-known with their synergistic and advantageous properties as high mechanical stability, low thermal expansion, high thermal stability, high corrosion resistance and high thermal conductivity [3]. The structural arrangements of Fe 3 O 4 in octahedral arrangements containing ferrous https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2019.164107 Received 18 November 2019; Accepted 19 December 2019 ⁎ Corresponding author at: Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt. E-mail addresses: dr_ashraf9@yahoo.com, aboalhassan@kku.edu.sa (I.M. Ashraf). Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics xxx (xxxx) xxxx 0030-4026/ © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Please cite this article as: Adel A. El-Zahhar, et al., Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2019.164107