Modulation of electronic conductivity and bandgap of electrochemically polymerised polycarbazole films using montmorillonite, multi-walled carbon nanotube and reduced graphene oxide as nanofillers

Abstract

The effect of adding several nanofillers such as montmorillonite (nanoclay), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and reduced graphene oxide on electrical and optical properties of polycarbazole (PCz) has been experimentally characterised. Polymerisation and deposition of PCz-based nanocomposite films on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate were performed using electrochemical method. Different nanocomposite films were characterised with respect of morphology, bandgap, and conductivity. The effect of nanofillers on the electrical characteristics of Al/PCz Schottky diodes was subsequently studied with devices fabricated in the laboratory. The experimental results demonstrate a radical improvement in the electrical behaviour of the semiconducting polymer after incorporation of nanofillers. It is found from the experimental results that the conductivity is highest and the bandgap is smallest in the case of PCz nanocomposite film using MWCNT as a nanofiller. © 2018 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.