Tunable electrophysical properties of composites nano-CdS/polyvinyl alcohol

• Electrical d.c. conductivity of nano-CdS/polyvinyl alcohol composites are studied.
• Temperature dependence of d.c. conductivity of composites are studied.
• Influence of nanoparticles concentrations on d.c. conductivity were investigated.
• Current-voltage characteristics interpreted in term of space-charges-limited currents.
• Tunability of the thermal sensitivity of CdS/polyvinyl alcohol composite is analyzed.

Electrical d.c. conductivity of nano-CdS/polyvinyl alcohol composites with different nanoparticle concentrations and its temperature dependence were studied. The composites demonstrate increasing resistivity with CdS nanoparticles content. The current–voltage characteristics of composites exhibit non-ohmic superlinear behavior that is interpreted in terms of space-charges-limited currents. Temperature dependence of resistivity is characterized by high temperature coefficient of resistivity which is favorable for applications in flexible, easy-to-shape thermistors. The tunability of the thermal sensitivity of CdS/polyvinyl alcohol composites was analyzed.