The effect of various atmospheres on the electrical characteristics of
Mo/poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT)/Pt Schottky barrier diodes was inve
stigated. It is found that the I(V), C(omega) and C(V) characteristics
of the diodes are affected mainly by the presence of water vapor and
oxygen. The capacitance shows a frequency dispersion characteristic of
the presence of deep traps, Peaks are also observed in the C(V) chara
cteristics under forward bias when the diode is subjected to air, oxyg
en or water vapor. The analysis of the I(V) characteristics shows that
the current is space-charge-limited for large biases when the diode i
s subjected to the various atmospheres. Based upon these results, it a
ppears that the effect of oxygen is to fill the traps and to dope the
polymer. The effect of water vapor is manifested by a reduction in the
dopant density and a filling of the deep traps. The effect is, howeve
r, irreversible in this case.