Premium
Electrical properties of hydrated collagen. II. Semiconductor properties
Author(s) -
Tomaselli Vincent P.,
Shamos Morris H.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1974.360131203
Subject(s) - chemistry , conductivity , impurity , electrical resistivity and conductivity , activation energy , thermal conduction , semiconductor , atmospheric temperature range , analytical chemistry (journal) , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , materials science , physics , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , engineering
The dc conductivity of hydrated bovine Achilles' tendon collagen has been determined as a function of hydration over a limited temperature range. At ambient temperature the conductivity changes from 10 −15 (Ω cm) −1 in the dry state to about 10 −8 (Ω cm) −1 at ∼24% water content by weight. For all temperatures the conductivity increases exponentially with hydration obeying σ( h ) = A exp (β h ), where h is a measure of the hydration, A is independent of temperature, and the parameter β ∼ T −1 . It is shown that the data may be described by an impurity‐type mechanism in which the effective activation energy for the process is dependent on temperature and hydration. Conduction is assumed to be electronic with the impurity (water) acting as a donor. In the solid state the effect of water on the conductivity is reversible indicating the absence of chemical alteration of the hydrated collagen.