Conjugated polymer semiconductor devices: characterisation of charged and neutral excitations

Abstract

Improvements in the synthesis and processing of conjugated polymers now allow fabrication of thin films suitable for use as active layers in a range of semiconductor devices. We have used a series of these polymers, including polyacetylene prepared by the Durham precursor route, soluble poly(3-alkylthienylenes) and poly(arylene vinylenes) prepared by precursor routes, and have made a variety of devices including field-effect diodes and transistors and light-emitting diodes. The operation of these devices provides a powerful experimental approach for investigating the process of charge transport and of the interconversion of charged and neutral electronic excitations.