Multifrequency (X, W-band) ESR and LESR study of P3DDT/PCBM composite solid films, photoinduced charge separation, polaron diffusion dynamics

The effective charge separation has been verified by two light induced ESR (LESR) signals which were observed under light excitation. These signals can be attributed to positive polarons (P+) on the polymer chain and to radical anions of PCBM (P-). In order to study the mechanism of photoconductivity the careful analysis of ESR and LESR linewidth broadening in donor/acceptor (P3DDT/PCBM) composit thin solid films have been carried out by X- and W-bands operated ESR spectrometers. Multifrequency ESR spectroscopic dates give the possibility to separate several parts of additional line broadening mechanisms to extract the dependent of polaron diffusion. The linewidth as a function of ESR frequency is examined by the standard least-square method with several spectroscopic independent parameters. The effective T2 relaxation time was obtained without the part of the anisotropic broadening of ESR linewidth and T1 one using the well observed in experiments the ESR line saturation effect. The difference (several times) between T1 values for P+ and P- radicals is in agreement with results published for analogical composites.