In situ production of CuS particles in polymer electrolyte matrix for mixed ion+electron conduction

Composites of polymer electrolyte polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with NH₄ClO_4, (PEO:NH₄ClO₄), having different weight ratios of dispersed semiconductor CuS (0–5 wt.%) have been prepared and characterized. The dispersal of CuS was achieved by its in situ formation in the viscous solution of polymer electrolyte (PEO:NH₄ClO₄) by sulfuration of CuSO₄ using H₂S. The band gap of CuS dispersed in the composites was found to be ~2.4 eV, which is higher than that of the bulk CuS for which it is 2.2 eV. Scanning electron microscopy studies show that the particle size varies from ~200 nm to several hundreds of nanometers. Polarization studies show that the semiconductor dispersed polymer composite so obtained has mixed ionic and electronic conduction. Detailed I–V studies show that the dispersoid is a p-type semiconductor.