Space-charge-limited electron currents in 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum

Abstract

We investigate electron injection and transport in single-layer devices of 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum sandwiched between two electrodes. Electrodes comprising a thin lithium fluoride layer are compared with co-evaporated magnesium–silver cathodes and with pure aluminum cathodes. By employing both transient and quasistatic current measurements, the impact of the LiF-layer thickness on electron injection is investigated. It is demonstrated that contacts comprising 0.1–0.2 nm LiF and an aluminum capping layer are able to sustain space-charge-limited currents in 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum. Further, steady-state current–voltage measurements as a function of temperature are discussed with respect to trap distributions in 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum.