STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research

Solar-Responsive Photo-Thermal Polymer Composites with Carbon Nanostructures for On-Demand Water Purification

  1. M. Dhanalakshmi Lincoln Global Postdoctoral Researcher (LGPR), Lincoln University College
  2. Weiwei Jiang Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
  3. S. UmaMaheswara Reddy Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lakireddy Bali Reddy College of Engineering, Mylavaram
  4. S. Arun Kumar Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Erode
  5. Deobarat Kumar Chandan Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Motihari College of Engineering, Motihari
  6. T. Venkatamuni Department of Mechanical Engineering, V.S.B Engineering College, Karur
  7. S. Nooray Sashmi Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai
  8. Yagya Dutta Dwivedi Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad
  9. Arun Chokkalingam Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced, Chennai

Abstract

The development of solar-responsive polymer nanocomposites offers a sustainable pathway for water purification. In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated and systematically investigated for their mechanical, thermal, viscoelastic, and thermal transport properties. Neat PVA displayed moderate tensile strength (~38 MPa) and high elongation (~165%), whereas 1.0 wt% nanofiller loading enhanced tensile strength to ~52 MPa and modulus to ~1.3 GPa, demonstrating an optimal balance of stiffness and ductility. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed an upward shift in glass transition temperature (Tg) from ~82 °C to ~89 °C with nanofiller addition, while crystallinity decreased from ~44% in neat PVA to ~33% at 2.0 wt%, facilitating improved solar absorption. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) confirmed reinforcement, with storage modulus rising from ~1.2 GPa in neat PVA to ~1.8 GPa at 1.0 wt% filler, and a corresponding increase in Tg by ~6–8 °C. Thermal transport analysis (TPS) indicated a nearly threefold enhancement in conductivity (from ~0.25 to ~0.72 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) and diffusivity (from ~0.12 to ~0.31 mm²·s⁻¹). Retention tests showed >93% stability after 10 heating–cooling cycles, confirming long-term durability. These results highlight the synergistic effect of GNP–CNT hybrid networks in tailoring heat localization, mechanical resilience, and solar-driven evaporation efficiency, establishing PVA-based carbon nanocomposites as viable candidates for on-demand solar-assisted water purification

Keywords

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