Spontaneous current emission in metal‐ferrocene‐doped ethyl cellulose‐metal systems

Abstract

Abstract Spontaneous current emission (SCE) has been studied in sandwiched different electrode configurations [metal(1)–undoped/doped ethyl cellulose (EC)–metal (1)/(2)] as a function of heating rate, film thickness and dopant concentration in the temperature range 40–200°C. The magnitude and direction of current depend on the combination of electrode metals. SCE thermograms for the Al undoped/doped EC–AI system exhibit two well resolved transition at 110 and 160°C in opposite directions to each other. The phenomena related to these transitions are explained in terms of creation of field at the interfaces and field produced in the bulk of the material. No negative direction transition was observed for electrode systems like Ag–Ag, Pb–Pb, Sn–Sn and Au–Au except for a shoulder of a peak around 100°C. When dissimilar electrode systems (i.e. Al–undoped/doped EC–Ag/Pb/Sn) are used, the current rises and then saturates beyond around 160°C.