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• Tailored CeO₂/PANI nanocomposites (4-12 wt.%) via electrodeposition for optimized structure and optoelectronics. • Tunable bandgap (2.45-2.56 eV) and refractive indices for advanced photonic and sensing applications. • Strong CeO₂-PANI interactions confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV-Vis analyses. • Electronic Transport Trade-offs: CeO₂ addition reduces conductivity (0.36 to 0.01 S/cm) due to disrupted π-conjugation. • Technological Implications : Promising for gas sensors, actuators, and EMI shielding applications. This study presents a novel approach for the controlled electrochemical fabrication of cerium oxide (CeO₂)/polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite films deposited onto indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated substrates, achieving tunable optoelectronic properties. We systematically investigated the impact of varying concentrations (4–12 wt%) of CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated into the PANI matrix on their optical and electrical characteristics. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed an increase in the optical bandgap from 2.45 eV (pure PANI) to 2.56 eV (12 wt% CeO₂), attributed to nanoparticle-induced disruption of π-conjugation. Concurrently, electrical conductivity decreased from 0.07 S·cm⁻¹ to 0.01 S·cm⁻¹, highlighting a clear trade-off between optical transparency and electrical conduction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed enhanced nanoparticle dispersion and reduced crystallite size, while Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated altered vibrational modes arising from CeO₂–PANI interactions. These findings position CeO₂/PANI nanocomposites as promising candidates for optoelectronic applications, especially in transparent electronics and electrochromic devices.
Al-Gharram et al. (Tue,) studied this question.