Influence of betalain natural dye from red beet in gum acacia biopolymer: optical and electrical perspective

Abstract In this study, the development and characterization of a plant-derived biopolymer, gum acacia, chemically modified by an herbal dye, red beetroot (Latin Beta vulgaris ) has been presented. Red beetroot, a flowering plant with abundant phytochemicals, prevents diseases and produces colorful chromophores. Chromophores interact with incident intense electromagnetic field and thereby absorb radiation in ultraviolet and/or visible region of the spectrum, promoting low to high-level electron excitation between different energy states. Such transition influences variation in optical and electrical properties of the system. Optical properties of both biopolymer unmodified gum acacia specimen and after modification with red beet induced chromophore are investigated by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. Pronounced light absorption is observed in the visible range of the spectrum compared to the unmodified specimen in which absorption is found to be observed in the deep ultraviolet range. Electrical characterization of the modified biopolymer with red beetroot extract suggests eviation from ideal dielectric relaxation obeying Debye mechanism. Electrical conductivity is found to be enhanced over pure specimen. These properties are eligible for application in energy storage devices, especially as a sensitizer in photovoltaic material which are ongoing extensive research area.