Abstract
Graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) (GCN) has emerged as the most promising material for the fabrication of next generation cutting-edge electronic and optoelectronic devices, due to its excellent and promising electrical and physicochemical properties. In this work we report on strategies to enhance the electrical conductivity of GCN thin films through the formation of heterostructures using silver nanoparticles (Ag). The synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles doping on structural and transport properties of GCN thin films was studied in detail. The structural and morphological changes in GCN polymer owing to the inclusion of silver nanoparticles were examined through Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer techniques. The conformational modifications in GCN polymer chains due to silver nanoparticles doping greatly enhanced the electrical conductivity of GCN thin films. The inclusion of silver nanoparticles in GCN polymer matrix decreases the barrier energy and enables the charge carrier hopping easily leading to improved electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of GCN-Ag composite thin film was enhanced by two folds due to the silver nanoparticles inclusion in comparison to conductivity of the pristine GCN thin film. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the composite film plays a substantial role in improving the dielectric attributes of the pure GCN. Therefore, the doping by using silver nanoparticles might be a suitable strategy for effectively tailoring the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of GCN thin films and can be used as flexible conducting electrode material towards fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices.