In this study, polyvinyl alcohol/nitrogen (PVA/N) hybrid thin films doped with sharp-sword ZnO nanowires
with insulating effect and wide-range spectrum are demonstrated for the first time. PVA/N doped ZnO
nanocomposites were developed by blending PVA and N-doped ZnO nanowires in water at room
temperature. Measurements from the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Raman, and photoluminescence emission (PL) spectra of the products show that
nitrogen is successfully doped into the ZnO wurtzite crystal lattice. In addition, the refractive index of
PVA/N doped ZnO hybrid thin films can be controlled by varying the doped ZnO nanowires under
different NH3 concentrations. It is believed that PVA/N doped ZnO hybrid thin films are a suitable
candidate for emerging applications like heat-shielding coatings on smart windows.
