Polaron mobility and conductivity of Na-doped trans-polyacetylene

Abstract

Using a deformation potential method, we have calculated the drift mobility of polarons in trans -polyacetylene scattered by phonon absorption and emission. The mobility, μ p, would be 32 cm 2/Vsec at 300K if the polaron mass were constant. Taking into account the fact that the polarons, like solitons, have a limiting velocity c of the order of the sound velocity, we find, however, that μ p at 300K is only ∼ 2 cm 2/Vsec. Moving polarons may contribute to the conductivity of the Na-poor phase of polyacetylene doped with Na in the range ∼0.5% to 6%.