Fabrication and transport properties of poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-cellulose triacetate Langmuir-Schaefer films

Cellulose triacetate (CTA) was doped with poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) during the oxidative polymerization of N‐vinylcarbazole using ferric chloride as an initiator to form polymer blends. The blends were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and UV‐vis spectroscopy. The surface morphology was further studied using both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Langmuir‐Schaefer films of the polymer blends were fabricated. The DC conductivity of the polymer films at room temperature was found to increase with an increase in CTA content up to a value of 0.001 S cm−1. The temperature‐dependent DC conductivity of the polymer films studied in the range of 300–500 K shows an increase in conductivity with an increase in temperature indicating a semiconducting behavior with a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity. The apparent activation energy also showed a pronounced effect with an increase in the temperature as well as an increase in the content of CTA. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers