Characterization and Temperature dependent DC conductivity study of bio templated nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO) and their composites using polyaniline (PANI)

Abstract

Nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles with an average dimension of 28 nm were prepared via the Sol-Gel method using rice starch as bio template at 500 °C for 3h. The DC conductivity of pure NiO nanoparticles measured 1.015 х 10−4 S/cm−1 at room temperature, limiting its wider use in electrical applications. Hence the conductivity of pure NiO was modified by doping polyaniline (PANI). Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) stabilized polyaniline was synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of aniline using ammonium persulfate and hydrochloric acid as a dopant. The synthesized NiO-PANI composites were subjected to temperature dependent DC conductivity study in the range of 30–150 °C and maximum conductivity 2.1129 х 10−2 S/cm−1 was obtained at 90 °C.