Surface Characterization and Electrical Properties of Low Energy Irradiated PANI/PbS Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials

Abstract

In this work, nanocomposite samples of polyaniline (PANI) and lead sulfide nanoparticles (PbSNPs) were prepared, utilizing the solution preparation method, for implantation in energy storage elements. The PANI/PbS films were irradiated by different fluences of oxygen beam: 5 × 1016, 10 × 1016, and 15 × 1016 ions.cm−2. The composite was investigated by XRD, SEM, DSC, and FTIR. After ion irradiation, the Tg and Tm values decreased by 4.8 °C and 10.1 °C, respectively. The conductivities, electrical impedances, and electrical moduli of untreated and irradiated samples were examined in frequencies ranging from 102 Hz to 5 MHz. Moreover, the ion beam caused a modification in the dielectric characteristics of PANI/PbS. The dielectric constant ε′ was improved from 31 to 611, and the electrical conductivity increased from 1.45 × 10−3 S/cm to 25.9 × 10−3 S/cm by enhancing the fluence to 15 × 1016 ions.cm−2. Additionally, the potential energy barrier, Wm, decreased from 0.43 eV to 0.23 eV. The induced changes in the dielectric properties and structural characteristics of the PANI/PbS samples were determined. These modifications provide an opportunity to use irradiated PANI/PbS samples for several applications, including microelectronics, batteries, and storage of electrical energy.