Electrical Properties of Nano Aluminum-Polymer Composite

Conducting polymers have attracted a large amount of attention since 1970 for being lightweight, flexible, durable alternatives to current conducting systems. When certain conditions are met, insulating polymers can be made to conduct electricity with the addition of electrically conductive nanoparticles. The factors that influence a polymer composite’s conductivity include the concentration, size and inter-particle spacing between conducting nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles are also well known for the enhanced conductive and optical properties compared to their bulk material counterparts. Metal nanoparticle-polymer composites show promise of great thermal, electrical and optical properties with potential applications as biosensors, electronics, thin film solar cells and other areas. Work was done to form a composite of polymer and aluminum nanoparticles to form a conducting polymer.  With a synthesis process that allows precise control of particle size, concentration and dispersion of particles within a polymer solution, we are able to tailor thin film structures and measure electrical properties.  Characterization of this material included electrical measurements such resistivity at different temperatures, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, dielectric breakdown measurements, and impedance spectroscopy.