Dielectric Constant and Transport Mechanism of Percolated Polyaniline Nanoclay Composites.

We report the dielectric constant and transport mechanism of intercalated nanoclay–polyaniline composite, an industrially ready to use novel nanocomposite, which is prepared by a simple mechanochemical method. The effects of clay concentration on structure and structure variations on properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and impedance spectroscopy (20 Hz–1 MHz and temperature range from 300–380 K). The phenomenon of percolation was observed in these composites. The values of Mott’s temperature, density of states at the Fermi level, hopping distance, and barrier height for polyaniline–nanoclay (PANC) composites were calculated. By applying Mott’s theory, it is found that the PANC composites obey the one-dimensional variable range hopping mechanism. This type of percolated sample can be used as a nanocapacitor in many devices because of its enhanced transport properties.