Experimental and Theoretical Study of AC Electrical Conduction Mechanisms of Semicrystalline Parylene C Thin Films

Abstract

The electrical conduction mechanisms of semicrystalline thermoplastic parylene C (-H(2)C-C(6)H(3)Cl-CH(2)-)(n) thin films were studied in large temperature and frequency regions. The alternative current (AC) electrical conduction in parylene C is governed by two processes which can be ascribed to a hopping transport mechanism: correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model at low [77-155 K] and high [473-533 K] temperature and the small polaron tunneling mechanism (SPTM) from 193 to 413 K within the framework of the universal law of dielectric response. The conduction mechanism is explained with the help of Elliot's theory, and the Elliot's parameters are determined. From frequency- and temperature-conductivity characteristics, the activation energy is found to be 1.27 eV for direct current (DC) conduction interpreted in terms of ionic conduction mechanism. The power law dependence of AC conductivity is interpreted in terms of electron hopping with a density N(E(F)) (~10(18) eV cm(-3)) over a 0.023-0.03 eV high barrier across a distance of 1.46-1.54 Å.