Electric conductivity of organic films, containing nanosize metal particles

New materials, containing nanodispersed particles (Ag, Pb, Mn, Ca, Sm, Na, CdS, ZnS) in the thin polymer film have been obtained via low temperature c odeposition of metal (or sulphide) with reactive para-xylylene monomer vapo urs at 100 K. Electric conductivity of the films was studied during the com ponents co-condensation, upon sample annealing in range 80-300 K and mainta ining at constant temperature. With a rise of metal nanoparticles in the po lymer matrix, the conductivity tends to increase. The conductivity may be d etermined as a tunnel transfer of charge from one nanoparticle to another t hrough a thin dielectric layer (up to 50 nm) of polymer matrix. (C) 1999 El sevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.