Analysis of DC Conductivity and I-V Characterization of Nanocrystalline Copper Ferrite Sample at and above Room Temperature

Abstract

Spinel copper ferrite nanoparticles have wide spread technological applications. Polycrystalline copper ferrite nanoparticles is prepared by sonochemical method. The structural property is investigated by X-ray diffraction study, which reveals cubic spinel structure of copper ferrite NPs with average crystalline size of 20 nm. The temperature variation of DC conductivity of copper ferrite nanoparticles is studied. The conductivity is observed to increase with temperature which implies semiconducting nature of copper ferrite. The Mott study reveals that conduction process is three dimensional in present case. Again, p-n junction formation in the ferrite system is observed from the current voltage (I-V) study. This study further shows that the trap height increases with temperature. Ideality factor with values greater than 1 has been observed in present case.