A photoconductivity study in γ-irradiated polyethylene at 77 K

A photoconductivity study was made on γ-irradiated low and high density polyethylene using 3-methylpentane, methylene chloride, and hexafluorobenzene as dopants. Electron spin resonance (esr) and optical absorption measurements were made together with photoconductivity. A study was also made for poly(4-methylpentene-1). The process of photocurrent generation is not ascribed totally to photodetrapping of trapped electrons in polyethylene; the process by photodetrapping of trapped electrons dominantly contributes to photocurrent generation in the ir region and may partly contribute in the visible region but not in the uv region. Another process for photocurrent generation other than photodetrapping of trapped electrons exists in the uv and perhaps partly in the visible region. We have tentatively ascribed this process to photodetachent of electrons from carbanions whch are formed by the reaction between radicals and electrons.