Electrical Switching in Thin Films of Nandi Flame Seeds Cuticles

Abstract

Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of Nandi flame seed cuticles (NFSCs) have been studied as a function of irradiation, annealing, and poling temperature. The cuticles showed memory and threshold switching. Threshold voltage Vth was about 5 V which is almost five times higher than Vth observed in synthetic polymers. The threshold voltage Vth increased to 6–8 V after irradiation and annealing depending on the duration of annealing or irradiation. After switching, conductivity increased by an order of 102 . In reverse bias, increase of current was observed and the memory hysteresis loop was at higher conductivity than at the time of switching. Switching effect was minimized at a poling temperature of 370 K. Formation of semiquinones and quinoid radicals from phenolic compounds may have contributed to electrical switching and hysteresis effect.