Papers by Author: Roshidah Rusdi

Abstract: Poly [2-methoxy, 5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) is a conjugated polymer that exhibit excellent luminescence properties in the visible spectrum. The fundamental absorption edge in the film is formed by the direct allowed transitions. In this work, free-standing films of MEH-PPV and MEH-PPV/MCMB were obtained by a solvent casting method. Mesocarbon Microbead (MCMB), a type of carbon, is added to the polymer producing composite films. The films were characterized by using the UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer. The film samples exhibited an absorption band in the red visible region. This is due to the electron transition between the non-localized bands. However, when MCMB is doped into the polymer matrix, the band absorption edge is red-shifted compared to that of the MEH-PPV pure film. Therefore, the optical band gaps of the composite films have decreased due to the presence of MCMB.

Abstract: The diffusion of charged species in solids is a very important part of the study of the electrical properties of materials. Electrical measurements using alternating current (ac) impedance is a powerful technique to study diffusing species in metal oxides as well as polymers. Three case studies are being presented here whereby the electrical properties of LiTaO3, Poly[2-methoxy-5-(2’-ethylhexyloxy)-(p-phenylenevinylene)] (MEH-PPV) and its composite are being studied using the same ac impedance technique. LiTaO3 is a metal oxide while MEH-PPV is a polymer. They are very different and therefore present very good examples for the versatility and power of ac impedance method. Electrical parameters such as conductivity and conduction behaviours of the conducting species can be extracted from the studies. The kinetics of the diffusing species can be elucidated by using proper analytical techniques.

Abstract: ZnO is a wide band gap semiconductor with many applications such as in solar cells, varistors, and other electrical components. The ZnO material was synthesized using a sol-gel method. The material was characterized using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The material is pure and single phase. Electron conduction in ZnO nanomaterials was done using alternating current (ac) impedance. The frequency ranges of the measurements used were 1x 10-3 Hz to 1x 106 Hz and the ac impedance measurements were done within a temperature range of 60oC to 100oC. Nyquist plots were drawn and bulk resistances were obtained. Subsequently, conductivity values were calculated and the diffusion characteristics were obtained. From further analysis of the conductivities with temperature, the diffusion of electrons in the material was studied. It was found that the conductivity increased with the increase of temperature which meant that the rate of diffusion of the electrons through the materials also increased. An Arrhenius relation was concluded for the electron diffusion in the ZnO nanomaterials.