Mechanism of charge transport by redox metal complexes confined in polymer matrices

Abstract

The mechanism of charge transport by metal complexes confined in polymer matrices is reviewed. There are two possibilities, one where the charge propagates in the matrix by diffusion of redox center molecules, and the other where the charge propagates by hopping between redox center molecules. The mechanism can be decided by investigating the dependence of the charge propagation rate on the redox center concentration, since in the diffusion mechanism the rate is first-order with respect to the concentration, while in the hopping mechanism it is second-order. In the hopping mechanism the charge-hopping distance can be analyzed by assuming a random distribution of the redox center in the matrix. The mechanism of charge transport by typical redox centers such as metal porphyrins, metal phthalocyanines, [Formula: see text] and methylviologen confined in a polymer membrane is presented and the charge-hopping distance is determined.