Enhancing high-temperature and high-humidity resistance of PVA-I₂ polarizing films via Co2⁺ ions: mechanism of stability improvement
摘要
The present study investigates the effect of Co2⁺ ion coordination complexation on the hygrothermal properties and stabilization mechanism of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polarizing films by introducing Co2⁺ ions. The coordination complexation of Co2⁺ ions reduced the molecular mobility, increased the crystallinity and melting point of the film, and decreased the interplanar spacing. These changes collectively enhanced the structural stability of the film, thereby significantly improving its performance under conditions of elevated temperature and humidity. However, it has been demonstrated that excessive levels of Co2⁺ ions have the capacity to exert a deleterious effect on the process of PVA-I₂ complex formation. In films treated with a 2 wt% Co2⁺ ion solution, the content of PVA-I⁻ and PVA-I₃⁻ complexes decreased by 10.4% and 14.6%, respectively, compared to those treated with a 1 wt% solution. Under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, the complexation of Co2⁺ ions played a crucial role in stabilizing the oriented structure of PVA polarizing films. The film exposed to a 1 wt% Co2⁺ ion solution retained a polarization degree approaching 100% in the visible light region even after 15 min of high-temperature and high-humidity treatment, with minimal degradation within the experimental error. Conversely, films with elevated Co2⁺ ion concentrations exhibited higher crystallinity, resulting in a reduction in oriented amorphous molecular chains. This resulted in a decrease in the PVA-I₃⁻ ion content, which ultimately degraded the polarizing optical performance. The findings reveal a delicate balance mediated by Co2⁺ coordination, offering new mechanistic understanding for developing high-durability optical films.