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Electrical transport properties of polyvinyl alcohol–selenium nanocomposite films at and above room temperature

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Abstract

Here, we report the DC and AC electrical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–selenium (Se) nanocomposite films in the temperature (T) range 298 K ≤ T ≤ 420 K and in the frequency (f) range 120 Hz ≤ f ≤ 1 MHz. The introduction of selenium nanoparticles into the PVA matrix slightly increases the values of DC conductivity whose temperature dependency obeys Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann law. The AC conductivity follows a power law with frequency in which the temperature dependence of the frequency exponent suggests that the correlated barrier hopping is the dominant charge transport mechanism for the nanocomposite films. Comparative discussions with Dyre’s random free-energy barrier model have also been made in this regard. The increase in AC conductivity with increase in nanoparticles concentration was also observed and attributed to the corresponding increase in conducting channels in the PVA matrix. The real part of the dielectric constant increases either with increase in temperature or with increase in selenium nanoparticles loading into the polymer matrix, which may be attributed to the enhancement of interfacial polarization. The frequency dispersion of the dielectric spectra has been modeled according to the modified Cole–Cole equation. Well-defined peaks were appeared in the plotting of imaginary part of electric modulus with frequency above room temperature, which was fitted with suitable equations to account for the deviations from ideal Debye-type behavior. Though the current–voltage characteristics are linear at smaller voltages, it appreciably becomes nonlinear at higher voltages. This nonlinearity has been accounted in light of Werner’s model and back to back Schottky diode model.

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Acknowledgements

Jiten Ghosh would like to thank Director CSIR-CGCRI for giving the permission for collaborative work with the team. The authors are thankful to MHRD, Government of India for the support during the project. We also gratefully acknowledge the support received from Centre of Excellence, TEQIP –II during the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, M.G. Avenue, Durgapur, 713209, West Bengal, India

    Subhojyoti Sinha, Sanat Kumar Chatterjee & Ajit Kumar Meikap

  2. CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, Kolkata, 700032, West Bengal, India

    Jiten Ghosh

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  1. Subhojyoti Sinha
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Correspondence to Subhojyoti Sinha.

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Sinha, S., Chatterjee, S.K., Ghosh, J. et al. Electrical transport properties of polyvinyl alcohol–selenium nanocomposite films at and above room temperature. J Mater Sci 50, 1632–1645 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8724-z

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