CHARGE-DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORT IN POLYMERS

Experimental work on charge distributions and charge transport in poly mer films is reviewed. For studying the charge distributions in the th ickness dimension, thermal or acoustic techniques are used with resolu tions down to similar to 1 mu m. The polymer samples usually are charg ed with corona, electron beam or thermal methods, Observation of the c hange of charge and polarization distributions with time allows one to draw conclusions about charge transport and charge injection phenomen a, In some cases theoretical models have been established, based on ex cess-charge drift due to a finite carrier mobility and on charge compe nsation due to intrinsic or radiation-induced conductivity Other model s we concerned with the interaction of injected or intrinsic space cha rge with a dipole polarization, Comparisons of measured and calculated charge distributions and their change with time show the applicabilit y of these models and shed new light on charge trapping and charge tra nsport phenomena.