Chain and carrier mobility in polymer systems as investigated by thermally stimulated current techniques

Summary

The results of TSC and TSD measurements carried out on polymers were analysed in terms of the influence of chain element motions on the release of charge carriers. Due to the relaxation processes occurring with increasing temperature the mobile chain elements “shake off” charge carriers leading to the charge release correlated with molecular mobility. This effect, called the “wet dog effect”, was shown in TSD and TSC experiments carried out on polycarbonate films doped with different amounts of suitable additives (antiplasticizers) and it was related to the chain mobility modification of detrapping phenomena. This study shows that a correlation between particular peak positions in TSC, TSD, TL experiments and carrier motion or dipolar relaxations must be done very carefully.