Conductivity enhancement of nanocomposited MEH-PPV:I-MWNT thin film

Abstract

In this paper, we report the electrical conductivity of nanocomposited MEH-PPV:I-MWNT thin film by varying the composition of Iodine doped multi-walled nanotubes (I-MWNT) in MEH-PPV matrix from 0, 2 and 4 wt%. Electrical conductivity showed increasing in value as the composition of I-MWNT increased from 0, 2 to 4 wt%. The value of conductivity is very outstanding when the polymer was blended with I-MWNT where the value rise from pure MEH-PPV, 81.6 × 10-4 S/m to 67.68 × 104 and 80.28 × 104 S/m for 2 and 4 wt% respectively. The surface morphology was investigated using atomic for microscopy (AFM). Roughness of the thin film showed decrement in value from 5.385 nm, 0.751 nm and 0.643 nm for 0, 2, and 4 wt% respectively. Meanwhile, the absorbance value increase slightly from about 0.16 (0 wt%) to about 0.165 and 0.17 (2 and 4 wt% respectively). The low absorbance shows that low photon is absorbed and therefore, there is no current changes when the sample is illuminated compared to in dark.