Dynamical study on charge injection and transport in a metal/polythiophene/metal structure

Abstract

The dynamical process of charge injection from metal electrode to a nondegenerate polymer in a metal/polythiophene (PT)/metal structure has been investigated by using a nonadiabatic dynamic approach. It is found that the injected charges form wave packets due to the strong electron-lattice interaction in PT. We demonstrate that the dynamical formation of the wave packet sensitively depends on the strength of applied voltage, the electric field, and the contact between PT and electrode. At a strength of the electric field more than 3.0 × 104 V/cm, the carriers can be ejected from the PT into the right electrode. At an electric field more than 3.0 × 105 V/cm, the wave packet cannot form while it moves rapidly to the right PT/metal interface. It is shown that the ejected quantity of charge is noninteger.