Electrical properties of cobalt oxide/silica nanocomposites obtained by sol-gel technique

Abstract

This work is an extension of our previous studies on cobalt oxide nanoparticles impeded in a silica matrix. Here we study the preparation and characterization of high cobalt content materials (60-90 wt%). In addition, the DC electrical conductivity of the prepared materials in a wide temperature range (350-673 K) was measured and discussed. The activation energy has been obtained according to Mott’s Small-Polaron Hopping (SPH) and Mott’s and Greaves Variable Range Hopping (VRH) models.