Bulk recombination of charge carriers in polymer films: Poly-N-vinylcarbazole complexed with trinitrofluorenone

Abstract

High concentrations of photocarriers have been produced in the bulk of a thin film of the photoconducting polymer, poly-N-vinylcarbazole: trinitrofluorenone, (PVK:TNF) by a Q-switched ruby laser, and the bulk (bimolecular) recombination of the charge carriers has been observed. The kinetics of recombination are in quantitative agreement with a theory originally developed by Langevin for the diffusion-controlled recombination of ions in high pressure gases. The recombination rate constant is proportional to the carrier mobility, and despite the low carrier mobility, the rate constant is as large as is found in many semiconductors.