Electron traps in semiconducting polymers: Exponential versus Gaussian trap distribution

The low electron currents in poly(dialkoxy-p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives and their steep voltage dependence are generally explained by trap-limited conduction in the presence of an exponential trap distribution. Here we demonstrate that the electron transport of several PPV derivatives can also be well described with a trap distribution that is Gaussianly distributed within the band gap. In contrast to the exponential distribution the trap-limited electron currents can now be modeled using the same Gaussian trap distribution for the various PPV derivatives.