Switching effect in poly(p-phenylenevinylene)

A switching effect was investigated in poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV). N-shaped current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of thick ITO–PPV–Al structures were observed, which correspond to switching at a threshold voltage typically in the range 2–5 V from a conducting to a resistive state. The behaviour was independent of the polarity of the applied voltage and the sweep direction. At the threshold voltage, the current changes by approximately one and a half orders of magnitude of its previous value. Pulsed measurements show that the transition time from one to the other conductive state is less than 1 μs. The switching effect can be associated with strongly localized current pathways.