Temperature dependent AC conductivity, mechanical and different DC conductivity modeling of poly (butyl methacrylate)/samarium doped titanium dioxide nanocomposites

Abstract

This work focuses on the effect of samarium doped titanium dioxide (Sm–TiO2) nanoparticles on the temperature dependent AC resistivity, room temperature DC conductivity and mechanical strength of poly (butyl methacrylate) (PBMA). The temperature dependent AC conductivity of the composites not only increases with the frequency, but also with the concentration of the nanoparticles. The activation energy obtained from AC conductivity decreases with increase in temperature of PBMA/Sm–TiO2 nanocomposites. The tensile strength of the nanocoposites were much greater than pure PBMA and the mechanical strength increases with increase in concentration of Sm doped metal oxide particles whereas, the elongation at break decreases with the incorporation of filler particles. DC conductivity of the nanocomposite was also higher than pure PBMA and the conductivity increases with the addition of nanoparticles. The mechanism of DC conductivity of PBMA/Sm doped TiO2 composite was analysed by applying different theoretical conductivity aspects based on Scarisbrick, McCullough, Bueche and Mamunya models. Among the various theoretical models, the Mamunya model exhibits better similarity with that of experimental observed conductivity.