AC conductivity and dielectric response of polycrystalline and amorphous C₇₀

The AC conductivity and dielectric constant of polycrystalline and amorphous C samples were measured in the 75-300 K temperature range and in the 100 Hz to 1MHz frequency range. For polycrystalline samples, we observe effects caused by O₂ intercalation due to prolonged exposure to ambient air. The conductivity σ of these samples around 300 K depends on the measuring frequency v as a σ ∼ vⁿ with n ≈ 0.88, implying a strong reduction of DC conductivity to less than 10^-12 S/cm. The dielectric constant of polycrystalline samples shows an anomaly at 285 K which is interpreted as due to the transition from its intermediate rhombohedral phase into its monoclinic low-temperature phase. In contrast with the polycrystalline samples, the amorphous C₇₀ samples prepared by sublimation do not contain interstitial 0₂, their conductivity at 300 K is of about 10^-6 S/cm, is independent of frequency, and is well described by the hopping mechanism (Davis-Mott T^1/4 law) in the 200-300 K range. All evidence of phase transitions disappears in the amorphous samples.