title: Current-dependent anisotropic conductivity of locally assembled silver nanoparticles in hybrid polymer films.
abstract: The electrical behaviour of hybrid poly(ethylene terephthalate) films containing localised, percolating networks of silver nanoparticles separated by pure polymer is studied. The films resemble an array of parallel wires in the submicron range and, thus, exhibit anisotropic conductivity. In the high-conductivity direction at low amplitudes, the films show Ohmic behaviour, while at moderate voltage, non-linearity and a decreasing resistance is observed. The samples were found to heat up during the measurements and the deviation from Ohm's law coincides with the Tg of the polymer. Microstructural analysis of the samples revealed an irreversible agglomeration of the particles at moderate voltages leading to the formation of filaments with higher metallic character than the random particle network.
authors.affiliation: DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V. und Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie der RWTH Aachen, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Rostislav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vinokur
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weichold
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012834:Silver; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols