Intrinsic Conduction Mechanism in Polymer Nanofibers

The I-V characteristics on pristine polymer nanofibers and carbonized polymer nanofibers show the similar power law scaling behavior despite the structural differences: the former quasi one-dimensional and the latter quasi-amorphous carbon networks of two- or three- dimensional. The power law scaling in carbonized polymer nanofibers is interpreted by the Efros-Shklovskii variable range hopping (ES-VRH), which we suggest as the main transport mechanism of pristine polymer nanofibers[1]. The magneto resistance (MR), however, shows distinct behavior between the two materials. The pristine polyacetylene nanofibers show zero magneto resistance (ZMR) in high electric field, E > 3 x 10⁴ V/cm. But the MR of carbonized polyacetylene nanofibers remains positive which is typical for the VRH conduction. The ZMR observed in polyacetylene nanofibers in high electric field is explained with the de-confined conduction of spinless charged soliton which is a 1-D topological insulator.
[1] K. H. Kim et.al, Sci. Rep. 6, 37783 (2016)