title: Thermally assisted semiconductor-like to insulator transition in gold-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites.
abstract: Gold-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites were fabricated by mixing gold nanoparticles capped with oleylamine in polymethylmethacrylate. The samples were analysed using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, small angle x-ray scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrical resistivity of nanocomposite samples was measured by a four-probe technique in the 70-300 K range. The nanocomposites showed a transition with an onset at ∼160-165 K. They exhibited a semiconductor-like conductivity at higher temperatures and nearly temperature independent conductivity at lower temperatures. The interfacial interaction of Au nanoparticles and PMMA polymer is investigated using FTIR and XPS. A ligand-exchange process occurs when capped gold nanoparticles are incorporated in PMMA polymer.
authors: DST Unit on Nanoscience, Department of Physics, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, India. Department of Physics, University of Shahed, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Majid Kazemian
authors: MK
authors: Abyaneh
authors: Renu
authors: R
authors: Pasricha
authors: S W
authors: SW
authors: Gosavi
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Kulkarni