Strengthened PVA Polarizing Films Sensitized with Shungite Nanoparticles

Introduction. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films are widely used in flexible electronics, biosensors, and liquid-crystal optical elements. Like many polymer materials, these films exhibit relatively low mechanical strength, which often necessitates additional protective layers that may reduce the efficiency of electronic and optical components. Sensitization with various nanoparticles is a well-established strategy for tuning the physical and chemical properties of polymer systems. In this study, shungite nanoparticles were selected as a sensitizer, as this natural, nontoxic carboncontaining material is known to enhance mechanical strength.
Aim. To obtain PVA films sensitized with shungite nanoparticles; to investigate their spectral and mechanical characteristics as functions of synthesis parameters; and to identify processing conditions that provide an optimal balance between optical performance and mechanical stability.
Materials and methods. Films were synthesized using the method developed at the S. I. Vavilov State Optical Institute. PVA served as the polymer matrix, and Karelian shungite nanoparticles containing 30 % carbon were introduced as a filler. Spectral characteristics were measured with a UV-3200 spectrophotometer, and mechanical properties were evaluated using a PMT-3M microhardness tester (LOMO).
Results. The films exhibited a polarization degree exceeding 90 % across the visible spectral range without additional lamination. Incorporation of shungite nanoparticles increased the mechanical strength of PVA films by up to 1.6-fold.
Conclusion. Modern photonic devices require materials that combine high polarization efficiency and optical transmittance with mechanical robustness. The developed approach strengthens PVA polarizing films while preserving their optical properties, thereby expanding current understanding of mechanical-property control in nanocomposite systems.

1. Shaw J. A., Vollmer M. Blue Sun Glints on Water Viewed Through a Polarizer. Applied Optics. 2017, vol. 56, no. 19, pp. 36–41. doi: 10.1364/AO.56.000G36

2. Yang Z., Wang Z., Zhang J., Huang Ch., Zhang Q. Lightweight Visible Light Positioning for Wearables. Mobile Computing and Communications. 2015, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 18–21. doi: 10.1145/2867070.2867077

3. Mercatelli L. Examining Polarizing and NonPolarizing Filters for Road Sports. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 2023, vol. 5, art. no. 1236473. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1236473

4. Zhang Y., Wu J. Advanced Optical Polarizers Based on 2D Materials. Nanophotonics. 2024, vol. 1, no. 28, pp. 1–9. doi: 10.1038/s44310-024-00028-3

5. Kakiuchida H., Ogiwara A. Stimuli-Responsive Light-Diffusing Polarizers Self-Assembled of Liquid Crystals and Polymers. Advanced Optical Materials. 2024, vol. 13, no. 8, art. no. 2402711. doi: 10.1002/adom.202402711

6. Nahal A., Kiasatfar O. Self-Organized Nanograting: a Plasmonic Dichroic Polarizer. Applied Physics A. 2025, vol. 131, art. no. 346. doi: 10.1007/s00339-025-08479-x

7. Hu Z., Ma Z., Peng M. , He X., Zhang H., Li Y., Qiu J. Composite Film Polarizer Based on the Oriented Assembly of Electrospun Nanofibers. Nanotechnology. 2016, vol. 27, no. 13, art. no. 135301. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/13/135301

8. Yang Y., Forbes A., Cao L. A Review of Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators: Devices, Technologies, and Applications. Opto‑Electronic Science. 2023, vol. 2, no. 3, art. no. 230026. doi: 10.29026/oes.2023.230026

9. Suleiman G., Zeng X., Chakma R., Wakai I. Y., Feng Y. Recent Advances and Challenges in Thermal Stability of PVA-Based Film: a Review. Polymers for Advanced Technologies. 2024, vol. 35, iss. 2, art. no. e6327. doi: 10.1002/pat.6327

10. Yang M., Wang Z., Li M., Yin Zh., Butt H. A. The Synthesis, Mechanisms, and Additives for BioCompatible Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels: a Review on Current Advances, Trends, and Future Outlook. J of Vynyl and additive technology. 2022, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 939–959. doi: 10.1002/vnl.21962

11. Lihomanova S. V., Zvereva G. N., Kamanina N. V. Effect of UV Treatment on Optical and Surface Characteristics of Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Sensitized with Shungite. Pisma v Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki. 2023, vol. 49, iss. 21, pp. 12–14. (In Russ.) doi: 10.21883/PJTF.2023.21.56456.19664

12. Kamanina N. V., Tojkka A. S., Barnash Ya. V., Fedorova L. O., Tarkan R. M., Oshkolov M. A., Zubtcova Yu. A., Likhomanova S. V., Kuzhakov P. V. Effect of Transparency Increasing and Surface Relief of Polyvinyl Alcohol Thin Films with Graphene Oxide of Varied Concentrations: Possible Applications. Liquid Crystals and their Application Russ. J. 2023, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 87–97. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.18083/LCAppl.2023.3.87

13. Lihomanova S. V., Kamanina N. V. The Iodization Time Influence on Spectral and Polarization Characteristics of Polyvinyl Alcohol Polarizers. Pisma v Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki. 2024, vol. 50, iss. 14, pp. 40–43. (In Russ.) doi: 10.61011/PJTF.2024.14.58309.19891

14. Li Y., Xie J., Cheng H., Wei X., Chen J., You L., Chen W. Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Polarizers for New Displays: Molecules, Processing and Properties. Soft Matter. 2025, vol. 21, iss. 17, pp. 3148–3167. doi: 10.1039/d4sm01530d

15. Moriche R., Artigas‐Arnaudas J., Chetwani B., Sánchez M., Campo M., Prolongo M. G., Rams J., Prolongo S. G., Ureña A. Microhardness and Wear Behavior of Nanodiamond-Reinforced Nanocomposites for Dental Applications. Polymer Composites. 2024, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 2292–2303. doi: 10.1002/pc.29104

16. Sharafeddin F., Shirani M., Jowkar Z. Assessing the Impact of Nano-Graphene Oxide Addition on Surface Microhardness and Roughness of Glass Ionomer Cements: A Laboratory Study. Intern. J. of Dentistry. 2024, vol. 2024, no. 1, art. no. 5597367. doi: 10.1155/2024/5597367.

17. Sokolov V. A. Geologiya i litologiya karbonatnykh porod srednego proterozoya Karelii [Geology and Lithology of Carbonate Rocks of the Middle Proterozoic of Karelia]. Leningrad, AN SSSR, 1963, 183 p. (In Russ.)

18. Borisov P. A. Karelʹskie shungity [Karelian Shungites]. Petrozavodsk, Gosizdat KFSSR, 1956, 92 p. (in Russ.)

19. Shlyanin A. N., Kayryak A. I., Kalinik Yu. K. Shungity Karelii i puti ikh kompleksnogo ispolzovaniya [Shungites of Karelia and Ways of Their Integrated Use]. Petrozavodsk, Karelia, 1975, 240 p. (In Russ.)

20. Sheka E. F., Rozhkova N. N. Shungit – prirodnaya kladovaya nanorazmernogo vosstanovlennogo oksida grafena [Shungite is a Natural Source of Nanoscale Reduced Graphene Oxide]. Nanosistemy. 2014, vol. 6, no 1, pp. 3–17. (In Russ.)

21. Xiao J., Han J., Zhang Ch., Ling G., Kang F., Yang Q.-H. Dimensionality, Function and Performance of Carbon Materials in Energy Storage Devices. Advanced Energy Materials. 2021, vol. 12, iss. 4, art. no. 2100775. doi: 10.1002/aenm.202100775

22. Chou N., Pierce N., Lei Y., Perea-López N., Fujisawa K., Subramanian Sh., Robinson J. A., Chen G., Omichi K., Rozhkov S. S., Rozhkova N. N., Terrones M., Harutyunyan A. R. Carbon-rich Shungite as a Natural Resource for Efficient Li-Ion Battery Electrodes. Carbon. 2018, vol. 130, pp. 105–111. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.109

23. Kovalchuk A. A., Prikhodko A. V., Konkov O. I., Rozhkova N. N. Graphene-Like Carbon of Shungite Rocks of Karelia as a Basis for Obtaining Nanostructured Films. Transactions of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2018, no. 11, pp. 121–127. (In Russ.)

24. Shevchenko T. V., Ustinova Yu. V., Uzunov G. B. Opredelenie biologicheskoj aktivnosti shungita [Determination of the Biological Activity of Shungite]. Novejshie dostizheniya v oblasti meditsiny, zdravookhraneniya i zdorovʹesberegayushchikh tekhnologi. Proc. of the 1st Intern. Congress. 2022, pp. 504–506. (In Russ.) doi: 10.21603/-I-IC-153

25. Tarasevich I. Yu., Bondarenko S. V. Study of Structural-Sorption and Electrochemical Properties of Natural Composite Material Shungite. Colloid J. 2008, no. 3, pp. 384–391. (In Russ.)

26. Pyrkin A. A., Lukuttsova N. P., Kostyuchenko G. V. On the Issue of Improving the Properties of Fine-Grained Concrete with Micro- and NanoDispersed Additives Based on Shungite. Vestnik BGTU im. V. G. Shukhova. 2011, no. 2, pp. 16–20. (In Russ.)

27. Kamanina N. V., Vasiliev P. Ya., Studenov V. I. Polarizing Films for the Visible Range of Light with a Nanostructured Surface Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers. Patent RU 2 498 373 С2. 2013. (In Russ.)

28. Huard S. Polarization of Light. New York, Wiley, 1997, 352 p.

29. Yerbolat G., Amangeldi Sh., Ali Md. H., Badanova N., Ashirbeok A., Islam G. Composite Materials Property Determination by Rule of Mixture and Monte Carlo Simulation. IEEE Intern. Conf. on Advanced Manufacturing, Yunlin, Taiwan, 16–18 Nov. 2018. IEEE, 2018, pp. 384–387. doi: 10.1109/AMCON.2018.8615034

30. MatWeb. Available at: https://www.matweb.com (accessed: 18.05.2025).

31. Agabekov V. E., Potapov A. L., Shahab S. N. Polarizers based on polyvinyl alcohol and films with silver nanoparticles: production and application (review). Polimernye materialy i tekhnologii. 2015, no. 2, pp. 6–35. (In Russ.)