Frequency dependent mobility of charge carriers along polymer chains with finite length

The effect of the chain length of conjugated polymers on the real and imaginary components of the frequency dependent mobility of charge carriers is studied. A theoretical model for one‐dimensional diffusive motion of charges between reflecting chain ends is presented. It is shown that the model can be used to describe the measured ratio of the imaginary and real components of the microwave (30 GHz) mobility of charge carriers moving along ladder‐type polymer chains with different lengths. From comparison of theoretical and experimental data it is inferred that an intra‐chain mobility of 30 cm 2 /Vs can be achieved for ladder‐type polymer chains, which are sufficiently long so that chain ends do not limit the mobility. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)