Low Percolation Behaviour of Polystyrene Carbon Nanoparticles (PS/CNPs) Composite

Polystyrene-Carbon nanoparticles (PS/CNPs) nanocomposites were fabricated via simple cast technique. The nanocomposite characterization involved morphological, optical, electrical and thermal properties using electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, electrical conductivity and DSC analysis. Interesting results were obtained, as conductivity at low loadings of CNP in polystyrene matrix (0.08 volume ratio), nonlinear IV characteristic curves below and above percolation threshold, increase of dielectric permittivity with increasing CNPs loading near the percolation threshold, shift in Tg to higher temperature with loading CNP. SEM results were also discussed.