Characterizations and dielectric properties of Ag2O/Chitosan nanocomposites a combined impedimetric and computational study

Abstract We have synthesized nanocomposite films of silver oxide nanoparticles loaded on chitosan (Ag2O/CS) with different nanoparticle weight percentages. The Ag2O/CS nanocomposites were analysed using several techniques, including FTIR, SEM, EDX, TGA, and complete density functional theory analysis. The measured dielectric properties (via impedance spectroscopy) of the nanocomposite films are featured by an increase in the permittivity with the increase of the Ag2O content, suggesting that the underlying polarization mechanism is of the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars type at the Ag2O/CS interfaces. Moreover, the film conductivities are governed by the correlated barrier hopping conduction between the nanoparticle sites. Semiempirical quantum calculations of the frontier orbitals show that the Ag2O/CS structure is stable and reactive. These electrochemical properties of our Ag2O/CS combined with the well-known antibacterial activities of Ag nanoparticles render the Ag2O/CS as a nanocomposite with a wide range of catalytic, biochemical and electrical applications.