Improved Structural, Optical and Electrical Behavior of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyaniline–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Films for High‐Performance Flexible Energy Storage Devices

ABSTRACT In this study, flexible polyvinyl alcohol/polyaniline–graphene oxide (PVA/PANI–GO) nanocomposite films were prepared via a solution‐casting method and systematically characterized for their structural, optical, and electrical properties. Incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) disrupted the semicrystalline PVA/PANI matrix, enhancing amorphous content and ion mobility. Optical analysis showed a redshift in the absorption edge and a reduction in the direct band gap from 5.02 eV (pure PVA/PANI) to 3.81 eV (PVA/PANI–4.0% GO), accompanied by an increase in Urbach energy from 0.24 to 0.32 eV, indicating more localized defect states. The refractive index increased with GO content, reflecting denser and more polarizable films. AC conductivity and dielectric studies revealed substantial enhancement in charge transport and interfacial polarization, with conductivity rising from 2.11 × 10 −16 to 1.01 × 10 −10 S cm −1 as loading increased from 0 to 4 wt%. These findings demonstrate that GO effectively improves the structural, optical, and electrical performance of PVA/PANI, highlighting the potential of these flexible nanocomposites for general optoelectronic and electronic applications.