Preparation and electrical properties of metal sulfides–amidoximated PAN composite film

To improve the electrical conductivity of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) film, metallic sulfides and PAN composite film were prepared by the chelating method. Dense PAN film and porous PAN film were prepared by dry process and wet process, respectively. These PAN films were treated to NH₂OH solution to introduce the amidoxime group coordinated with metallic ion. Cu⁺² and Cd⁺² ions were adsorbed to amidoximated PAN films, the sulfur ion was treated with metal-adsorbed PAN films, and thus CuS—and CdS–PAN composite films were prepared. The adsorptive capacity of amidoximated PAN film for the Cu⁺² ion was independent of the morphology of the PAN film, but the adsorptive capacity of the Cd⁺² ion on amidoximated PAN film was dependent on porosity of the polymer. Adsorptive capacity of amidoximated porous PAN film for Cd⁺² was improved about four times than that of amidoximated dense PAN film. The electrical conductivities of CuS–dense and porous PAN composite film were both 10^?1 S/cm in optimum condition, but because of the difference in adsorptive capacity, the electrical conductivities of CdS–dense and CdS–porous PAN composite films were 10^?9 S/cm and 10^?4 S/cm, respectively. Additionally, because CdS was known as a photoconductive material, the photoconductive properties of CdS–porous PAN composite film were investigated.