Transport Properties of KxV2O5·nH2O Nanocrystalline Films

Five different compositions of KxV2O5·nH2O (where x=0.00, 0.0017, 0.0049, 0.0064 and 0.0091 mol) were prepared by the sol-gel process. Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power were measured parallel to the substrate surface in the temperature range of 300–480 K. The electrical conductivity showed that all samples were semiconductors and that conductivity increased with increasing K content. The conductivity of the present system was primarily determined by hopping carrier mobility. The carrier density was evaluated as well. The conduction was confirmed to obey non-adiabatic small polaron hopping. The thermoelectric power or Seebeck effect, increased with increasing K ions content. The results obtained indicated that an n-type semiconducting behavior within the temperature range was investigated.