Electrical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (pva) films doped with cocl2 salt

The electrical characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films doped with different concentrations (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 wt %) of CoCl2 salt powder were studied. The volumetric electrical conductivity σv for (PVA-CoCl2) films as a function of the concentration of CoCl2 salt at room temperature and the relationship of volumetric electrical conductivity σv for (PVA-CoCl2) films of different concentrations of CoCl2 salt with the temperature are calculated. The activation energy for (PVA-CoCl2) films of different concentrations of CoCl2 salt was calculated also and it is found that it decreases with increasing CoCl2 salt content. It is found that there are two transport mechanisms, giving rise to two activation energies (Ea1) and (Ea2). At higher temperatures range (343 – 373) K, the conduction mechanism is due to carriers excited into the extended states beyond the mobility edge and at lower temperatures range (303 – 333) K, the conduction mechanism is due to carriers excited into the localized states at the edge of the band.