Thermally Stimulated Measurements in Solid Dielectrics

Thermally stimulated measurements for discriminating charge species and polarity of charges in solid dielectrics are described in the present paper. Thermally stimulated current characteristics due to dipolar polarization, charge trapping and ionic space charge polarization are clearly different from one another. The three charge species mentioned above can be discriminated by thermally stimulated currents. Further total electronic space charge and its mean spatial depth from the electrode due to injection can be measured by thermally stimulated current. Polarity of trapped charge (electron hole) and mobile ions can be discriminated by temperature gradient thermally stimulated surface potential measurement where temperature gradient in sample films is formed in heating.