Abstract
The present study investigated the composition, physical characteristics, and antibacterial efficacy of Polyvinyl alcohol/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) composite films containing different percentages (0-12%) of ferrous chloride (FeCl₂) by the solution casting method. XRD and FT-IR measurements indicate a significant increase in amorphous and substantial interactions between the polymer and filler with the addition of FeCl(2). The composites exhibited enhanced thermal stability as evidenced by TGA, with the residual weight at 800 °C increasing from 0.21% for the pure sample to 6.28% for the sample containing 12 wt% FeCl(2). The optical analysis reveals a significant decrease in the direct band gap, diminishing from 5.09 eV for the pure sample to 2.76 eV at 12% FeCl(2), hence improving its applicability in optoelectronic applications. The films exhibit paramagnetic characteristics, with a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 0.055 emu/g at a 12 wt% FeCl(2) concentration. Hopping conduction and dielectric analyses reveal a marked improvement in both the dielectric constant and AC conductivity, attaining their highest values at a FeCl₂ concentration of 10 wt%. The barrier height decreases as the temperature and FeCl₂ content increase. Impedance spectroscopy exhibited an angled spike at low frequencies and a semicircular arc at high frequencies, indicating non-Debye relaxation behavior consistent with equivalent circuit models. Furthermore, the composites showed potent antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), suggesting their potential for multifunctional optoelectronic and antimicrobial applications.