**6. Conclusion**

240 Biomaterials – Physics and Chemistry

9.04×1019

(eV)

γR

 *vs 1/T* at different electric fields. Inset (a)

*T ½)* versus (*T -1/4*) within a temperature of 350K-440K and

Mott parameters Value

N(EF) (eV-1cm-3)

Table 2. Mott parameters at temperature range of (320-440K)

T0 (K) 4.58×1010

α (cm-1) 3.0 ×108 R (cm) 1.44 ×10-7 W (eV) 0.89

T (K) R (cm-1) W (eV) kT

Table 3. Variation of Mott parameters at temperature range of 300-450K

Fig. 9. Arrhenius plots showing variation of

σ

ranges. Inset (b) plot of ln *(*

average electric field of 2.25Kv/cm.

300 1.54 ×10-7 0.72 0.026 41.6 350 1.49×10-7 0.81 0.030 40.1 400 1.44×10-7 0.89 0.034 38.7 450 1.39×10-7 0.98 0.039 37.6

σ

average Arrhenius plot showing activation energy at low and intermediate temperature

Current-Voltage characteristics of the cuticles, as a function of irradiation, annealing, and temperature, show electrical switching with memory effect. The threshold voltage increases with irradiation time and annealing temperature but it decreases with increase in measurement temperature. The threshold voltage of the annealed and irradiated samples ranges between 6-8 volts. Electrrical conduction in the OFF state follows Ohms' law but changes to space charge limited current after switching to ON state. A combination of Fowler-Nordheim field emission process and redox processes are responsible for electrical switching of the samples. Conduction at low temperatures takes place by variable range hopping mechanism. Since this biomaterial is biodegradable and is also considered to be biocompatible and immunologically inert, it has high potential in biomedical applications. It can be used in making contact eye lenses, scaffolds in tissue engineering, and in controlled release of drugs. Most notably, due to its switching properties, its use in the design of biosensors utilizing ion channels is very feasible.
