Electroluminescence in PE impregnated with various gases or liquids

Electroluminescence was investigated under highly divergent ac field in polyethylene (PE) impregnated with various gases (vacuum, air, pure N/sub 2/ or SF/sub 6/) or liquid (n-hexane). Vacuum treated PE shows the highest intensity of EL. N-hexane impregnated PE does not show any light emission. The results obtained here are well explained by electron impact model; electrons accelerated in micro void and/or large free volume collide with polymer molecules (chromophores) and cause electroluminescence.