Matthew E Edwards
Alabama A&M University, USA
Title: Electrical conduction mechanism of volume and surface resistivities of multi-walled carbon nanotubes doped polyvinyl alcohol (pva) and the pyroelectric behavior of polyvinylidene difluoride (pvdf) thin films
Biography
Biography: Matthew E Edwards
Abstract
Previously, we have reported measurements of the temperature-dependent surface resistivity of pure and multi-walled carbon nanotubes doped Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) thin films. In the temperature range from 22 ℃ to 40 ℃, with a humidity-controlled environment, we have found the surface resistivity to decrease initially but to rise steadily as the temperature continued to increase. Correspondingly, we have measured the temperature-dependent pyroelectric coefficient of doped PVDF thin films. While the physical mechanism of the pyroelectric phenomenon in PVDF thin films is quite well known, the surface resistivity behavior of PVA thin films is not. Here, we report recent volume resistivity measurements and address the electrical conduction phenomenon that contributes to both surface and volume resistivities of pure and doped PVA thin films. Moreover, we give preliminary detectivity and other relevant quality factors for IR and motion sensors. Regarding the pyroelectric effect of doped PVDF thin films, we give Materials Figures-of-Merit from our measurements. In addition, pyroelectric, surface and volume resistivity infrared detection fundamentals are presented.