Optical Sensitization of Charge Carrier Transport in Poly(n‐vinyl Carbazole)*

The photoconductivity of thin films of poly(N‐vinyl carbazole), and poly(N‐vinyl carbazole) sensitized with a thin layer of amorphous selenium, has been measured using a ‘xerographic’ condenser discharge technique and a conventional time of flight light pulse photo‐response technique. Direct camer generation and hole mobility in the polymer was found to be strongly field dependent. There appears to be no evidence for deep trapping. Hole transport through the polymer was able to be sensitized by light absorbed in the selenium. The results indicate that the photosensitization mechanism can be thought of in terms of hole generation and transport in selenium, field‐modulated injection across the selenium polymer interface and transport through the polymer.