Mechanisms for current-induced conductivity changes in a conducting polymer

Xin Xu, Richard A. Register, Stephen R. Forrest

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

A layer of polyethylene dioxythiophene:polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDT:PSS) spun onto the surface of an inorganic semiconductor forms a highly asymmetric rectifying junction when a small current is applied and can be permanently open circuited with application of a high current density. This allows the polymer/semiconductor junction to function as a write-once-read-many-times memory element. We use x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature induced conductivity measurements to study the morphological and chemical changes responsible for the large current-induced conductivity changes. It is found that by applying a large current to the organic-inorganic semiconductor rectifying heterojunction structure AuPEDT:PSSSi, the ratio of PEDT+ to PSS- near the interface changes due to phase segregation in the presence of both high electric field (> 105 Vcm) and temperature. This leads to a decrease in film conductivity by up to six orders of magnitude from its value in the conductive state.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number142109
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume89
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanisms for current-induced conductivity changes in a conducting polymer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this