Hole transport is through dye in a PVK-matrix photorefractive polymer

Summary form only given. Hole transport in photorefractive polymer composites has generally been assumed to be due to the charge transporting component added for that purpose. We now present evidence that transport can occur through the electro-optic dye component instead. The hole mobility in a photorefractive polymer composite incorporating PVK a well-known charge transporting polymer, was compared to the mobility in an analogous composite in which the host matrix was instead polycarbonate, an insulator. Both materials were doped with 47.5 %wt. of the electro-optic chromophore. We find that in this composite, containing the hole transport polymer PVK and a high concentration of dye, the holes are transported by hopping between the electro-optic chromophores.