Thermally stimulated switching in electroactive polymer films

Electronic switching in poly(diphenylenephthalide) due to the thermal ionization of electron traps is studied. The method of thermally stimulated current and the method of thermally stimulated depolarization current are used. A correlation between spectra obtained by the two methods is established. The results are interpreted by using the temperature dependence of IR absorption spectra taken under conditions similar to those under which thermally stimulated phenomena are observed. Comparing data obtained, we assign electron traps to specific molecular groups of the polymer and infer the importance of the surplus space charge critical concentration for the onset of the high-conductivity state in the polymer. (C) 2003 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".