Charge transport properties of semiconducting natural rubber (Cis 1,4-polyisoprene)

Abstract For the first time, an effort has been made to evaluate the charge transport properties of semiconducting natural rubber. Four different ratios of iodine-rubber composites are synthesised and tested for charge transport by current density- voltage characteristics (J-V) and impedance spectroscopy. The optimal doping ratio for best mobility value is identified, and the effect of injection barrier height on mobility is discussed. An attempt has also been made to correlate the density of states (DOS) with mobility and doping ratio. The transport properties of semiconducting natural rubber are compared with one of the most popular p-type material, Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) under the same ambience and experimental conditions to demonstrate its potential as a cost-effective and green alternative organic semiconductor.