Generation and transport of charge carriers in polymers under transient voltages

Studies on electrical conduction in polymers continue to attract considerable interest due to their relevance in practical applications. Compared with the studies on currents with application of voltage over long durations of 10-10⁵ s studies on currents with transient voltages have received less attention. In this investigation, transient currents were measured in several high temperature materials with step voltages having a rise time of 1 μs and a duration of 2 s. The field strength varied from 1.67 MV m^-1 to 20 MV m^-1. Current signals were sampled by a detecting series resistor and a wide band amplifier which was connected to a 200 MHz digital oscilloscope and a personal computer: The temperature was varied over a range of 50°C-200°C. The dependence of current on the electric field and temperature in several materials Is discussed in the light of various theories of conduction mechanisms