Thermally stimulated discharge currents in iodine-doped polystyrene films

Abstract

Studies were made of the thermally stimulated discharge (TSD) current in iodine-doped polystyrene (PS) films (20 μm thick) as a function of the iodine concentration and the temperature of polarization. Unpolarized doped films were observed to give TSD currents. This is attributed to the formation of charge transfer complexes (CTCs) between iodine and the main molecular chain of PS. Doping PS with iodine lowers the temperáture at which the current peak occurs and enhances the peak current. An increase in the temperature of polarization increases the TSD current and shifts its maximum to a higher temperature while an increase in the concentration of iodine lowers the activation energy of the discharge process. The thermally assisted detrapping of carriers is suggested as a possible mechanism.