Electrical carrier-injection and transport characteristics of photochromic diarylethene films

Abstract

Electrical carrier-injection and transport characteristics of photochromic diarylethene thin films were investigated. Injected and transported carriers (injected current) to the diarylethene film were increased with the existence ratio of the closed-ring form, which was one isomerization state of the diarylethene molecule. A dramatic increase was observed at a 12-percent existence ratio of the closed-ring molecules. A lowering effect of the potential barrier, which is caused by a Poole–Frenkel-like effect with a short distance interaction potential for hole transportation by increasing the existence ratio of the closed-ring molecules is proposed as the mechanism behind this phenomenon.