Thermally stimulated discharge current studies of pure and doped polyvinyl alcohol films

Thermally stimulated currents have been studied in solution grown pure and doped polyvinyl alcohol films polarised at different temperatures. The TSC spectra have been used to calculate relaxation time, activation energy, capture cross section, charge and the attempt-to-escape frequency in films doped with different impurities. The electrical conductivity, charge-retaining capability and other parameters are found to be dependent on the doping. The results are explained in terms of the energy levels created by the dopants and charge transfer through a tunnelling mechanism.