Optical Properties of Pr3+-Doped Polyvinylidene Fluoride–Titanium Dioxide (PVDF– TiO2 Hybrid

Polyvinylidene fluoride–titanium dioxide (PVDF– TiO₂ ) hybrid material is a new class of materials in the field of optoelectronics. Rare earth doping in this hybrid makes it useful in optical devices. In this chapter, we describe the synthesis and optical properties of Pr³⁺-doped PVDF– TiO₂ hybrid. A nonhydrolytic sol–gel method was used for the synthesis. The spectroscopic properties of PVDF– TiO₂:Pr³⁺ were characterized using absorption and photoluminescence spectra. Direct and indirect bandgaps of the material were determined from the absorption spectrum. The nephelauxetic ratio and bonding parameter were calculated to identify the Pr³⁺–ligand bond in the material. The oscillator strengths of the observed absorption peaks, Judd–Ofelt parameters, and spectroscopic quality factor were estimated to analyze the potential of the material to be used in optical devices. The emission characteristics were studied at an excitation wavelength of 446 228nm. The colorimetric analysis based on the emission spectrum revealed that PVDF– TiO₂:Pr³⁺ emit bluish-green light upon 446 nm excitation.