Enhanced UV emissions in Polypyrrole/PVA composite for smart apparels

A cost-effective, scalable, eco-friendly, flexible smart apparel was fabricated by casting method employing polypyrrole(PPy) with biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol on cotton fabric. Different concentration of PPy is embedded in PVA. The X-ray diffraction pattern affirmed the interaction between PVA and PPy. Optical absorption spectra showed two peaks corresponding to PVA and the excitonic peak of PPy higher concentration of GCN exhibited a low bandgap harvesting the visible and IR part of the solar regime. High optical (0.104 S/cm) and electrical conductivity(2.3928 × 10−3) were attained for the higher concentration of PPy which might be attributed to the availability of the more defect centers in between the HUMO and LUMO of PVA. The room temperature photoluminescence exhibited enhanced blue emission at 379 nm for a higher concentration of PPy in PVA thin film due to the charge transfer mechanism. As 5PPy possesses, higher PL emission and higher electrical conductivity, it was taken further to fabricate smart apparel in cotton cloth. The fabricated smart apparels can be used to manufacture flexible, lightweight, eco-friendly optoelectronic devices.