Temperature Dependent Electrical Characterization of an Ion Implanted Metal/Polymer Matrix

Date of Graduation

Summer 2003

Degree

Master of Science in Materials Science

Department

Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science

Committee Chair

Darrell Roubinek

Abstract

Ion implanted metal/polymer composites have remarkable electrical, magnetic, optical, and mechanical properties that have a wide range of applications including infrared sensors, temperature sensors, magnetic sensors, vacuum sensors, and biosensors. In particular, temperature dependent electrical properties of metal/polymer composites play a vital role in device applications. To better understand the temperature dependence of electrical properties of these composites, a low-temperature electrical characterization system was built. Metal/polymer composites were prepared via ion implantation. Prior to ion beam mixing, varying thicknesses (20-75A) of gold (Au) were deposited onto a semi-insulating copolymer called polystyrene-co-acrylonitrile (PSA). Temperature dependent resistivity and temperature dependent 1/f noise measurements were carried out on these Au/PSA composites. From the temperature dependent resistivity measurements and the temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) was calculated, which is an important parameter in developing viable sensors. The electrical measurements of the implanted Au/PSA composite show a sharp percolation behavior and a large TCR below the critical Au thickness of 44A.

Subject Categories

Materials Science and Engineering

Copyright

© Rishi J. Patel

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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