Enhanced Optical and Electrical Performance of Poly(N-methylpyrrole) via Incorporation of Molybdenum Trioxide Nanoparticles

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of Poly(N-methyl pyrrole) (PNMPy) and its nanocomposite with molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) prepared via a chemical oxidative in situ polymerization method. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the synthesized materials were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and dielectric measurements. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed strong interfacial interactions and homogeneous dispersion of MoO3 within the PNMPy matrix, forming an ordered hybrid structure. The UV–Vis spectra revealed absorption bands at 380 and 500 nm, corresponding to π–π* and n–π* transitions, with a redshift indicating charge transfer between the polymer and oxide phases. The optical band gap of the PNMPy/MoO3 nanocomposite (2.05 eV) was significantly lower than that of pure PNMPy (3.28 eV) and MoO3 (≈3.0 eV), demonstrating enhanced electronic coupling. Dielectric studies showed that the PNMPy/MoO3 nanocomposite exhibited semiconductor behavior with an electrical conductivity of 1 × 10‒5 S/m and an activation energy of 9.94 × 10–2 eV. These findings indicate that the incorporation of MoO3 nanoparticles effectively enhances the optical and electrical performance of PNMPy, making the composite a promising candidate for use in optoelectronic, sensing, and energy storage applications.