Study of structural and electrical properties of Ag-starch nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

In the present work, Ag nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction were used to synthesize Ag-starch nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to ascertain the formation of Ag-starch nanocomposites. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements reveal that the conductivity of starch increases with increasing concentration of Ag nanoparticles. I-V data was further analysed to ascertain the actual conduction mechanism responsible for charge transport in starch and Ag-starch nanocomposites. Poole-Frenkel (PF) emission was found to be dominant conduction mechanism responsible for increased conductivity of Ag-starch nanocomposites.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanoparticles
• starch
• I-V characteristics

Funding

One of the authors (Meena) is greatly thankful to UGC for financial support in the form of BSR fellowship to carry out the research work.