Features of Electrical Properties of Nanocomposite Polymeric Materials with Silver Nanoparticles

Polymeric nanocomposite materials are widely used and require a detailed study of their complex properties, in particular electrical ones. The electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites based on polyethylene oxide and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were studied using impedance spectroscopy. It has been established that AgNPs have an extreme effect on electrical characteristics. It is shown that the highest electrical conductivity at direct current is observed at a content of 1% of AgNPs. It was found that two mechanisms of charge transfer take place in the polymer-AgNPs system: hopping and segmental. With the introduction of filler, the contribution of each of these mechanisms changes. Experimental data of impedance spectra were modelled using the method of equivalent circuits. A scheme of fractal aggregation of silver nanoparticles is proposed. It was found that the part of the boundary layer at the polymer-filler interface is the highest when the content of AgNPs is equal 1%.