Tuneable transport properties of swift heavy ion-irradiated PEDOT–DBSA/SnO₂ nanocomposites

Abstract

Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid doped poly (3, 4-etylenedioxythiophene)/SnO ₂ nanocomposites were synthesized by the self-assembly method and irradiated with 90 MeV O⁷⁺ ions at the fluences of 5×10¹⁰, 1×10¹¹, 5×10¹¹ and 1×10¹² ions/cm² using the 15UD Pelletron accelerator under high vacuum. DC conductivity of unirradiated nanocomposites exhibits Mott's 1D variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism. However, there is cross-over to 3D VRH mechanism at higher irradiation fluence of 5×10¹¹ and 1×10¹² ions/cm². There is an enhancement in the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites upon swift heavy ion irradiation. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics indicate the formation of Schottky barriers at the interfaces in the nanocomposites.

Keywords:

• PEDOT–DBSA/SnO ₂ nanocomposite
• SHI irradiation
• transport properties
• VRH mechanism
• Schottky barrier

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi, for providing the irradiation facility, and Dr D. K. Avasthi and P. K. Kulriya for valuable discussions. One of the authors (S. S.) thanks Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the senior research fellowship.