Effect of the composition of cardo co-poly(arylene ether ketone)s on charge carrier transport in a semiconductor—polymer—metal structure

The nucleophilic substitution reaction of activated aryl dihalide was used to synthesize heat-resistant thermoplastic polymers, that is, cardo co-poly(arylene ether ketone)s (co-PAEK) with different contents of fluorene fragments. Thermomechanical and electronic properties of thin films of the copolymers were studied, taking into account the prospects of their application for the formation of an electrical contact conducting oxide—polymer-metal. Influence of charge carrier concentration and effective mobility in the polymer were revealed depending on the composition of the cardo co-PAEK in the indium—tin oxide (ITO)—co-PAEK—copper structure. The potential barrier height at the co-PAEK—copper and co-PAEK—ITO interfaces was determined, the effect of changes of the electron work function of ITO on these values was studied. Changes in the parameters of charge carriers and changes in potential barriers over time were investigated.