Solvent induced charge transport mechanism for conducting polymer at higher temperature

Abstract

To elucidate the response of different solvents such as isopropyl-alcohol (IPA) and acetone for polyaniline-emeraldine-base (PANI), the charge transport mechanism is investigated as a function of temperature in the presence of different solvents. From SEM and XRD characterization, it is noted that each solvent improves the surface smoothness and negligible solvent traces were observed in the final thin-film devices. It is further observed that all devices follow space-charge-limited-current (SCLC) model to define their electrical responses. Conductivity was measured directly through four-probe method, while mobility was estimated from SCLC model and then both conductivity and mobility of PANI are compared with the given solvent at different temperatures. Similarly, it is also realized that the IPA solvent improves conductivity, mobility and degradation of PANI thin-film due to complex behaviour of solvent induced self-organization of molecular chains and reduction of residual traps as a function of temperature.

Keywords

• conducting polymer
• PANI
• charge-transport
• SCLC
• Four-probe method
• electronic traps