The high field conductivity in organosilicon plasma polymers

The electrical conductivity by electron hopping in the case of high electric fields is discussed with special attention to the Poole-Frenkel generation mechanism. Computer simulations of charge carriers tunneling between different kinds of localized states are presented. The model consequence is the existence of the exp(F/F/sub 0/) term in high-field direct current. These theoretical results are supported by measurements of current versus voltage characteristics for thin films of plasma polymers obtained by glow discharge in vapors of different organosilicon monomers. The present model also implies the existence of temperature-independent direct current in the case of sufficiently high electric fields.<>