Electrical conductivity of polyazomethine nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposites of polyazomethines have been prepared via <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in situ</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ex situ</i> addition of Ag and PbS nanoparticles. Structural characterization of nanocomposites by X-ray diffraction shows formation of pure nanocrystalline Ag and PbS with cubic structure. Transmission electron microscopy gives evidence for spherical nanoparticles distributed homogenously within the polymer matrix. Electrical measurements show a significant increase in conductivity in some of the nanocomposites with respect to the virgin polymers. Infrared spectroscopy reveals strong interaction between the nanoparticles and polymers in these nanocomposites. Finally, a theoretical model based on PM6 molecular orbital calculations to explain the observed changes in the electrical conductivities is suggested. It is concluded that increase in electrical conductivity is governed by strong interaction between the polymer and the inorganic nanoparticles, resulting in considerable decrease of energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital.