Electroluminescence excitation mechanisms in an epoxy resin under divergent and uniform field

Electroluminescence (EL) excitation mechanisms have been investigated in epoxy resin under divergent and uniform field situations. Metallic wires embedded in the resin were used to produce field divergence whereas film samples were metallised to obtain a uniform field. EL under divergent field was stimulated by a pulse voltage. Light was emitted on the positive and negative fronts of the pulses when the field exceeded 20 kV/mm at the wire surface, with equal intensity and without polarity dependence. There was evidence of space charge accumulation around the wires in multiple-pulse experiments. Charge injection and extraction occurring at both fronts of the pulse provide the condition for EL excitation. Further excitation of the EL during the plateau of the voltage pulse is prevented by the opposite field of the trapped charge. Field computation with and without space charge supports the proposed interpretation. A dc voltage was used for the uniform field experiments. A continuous level of EL is found at 175 kV/mm. Charging/discharging current measurements and space charge profile analyses using the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) technique were performed at different fields up to the EL level. Dipolar orientation generates a long lasting transient current that prevents the conduction level being reached within the experimental protocol (one hour poling time). The continuous EL emission is nevertheless associated with a regime where the conduction becomes dominant over the orientational polarization. Polarization and space charge contribute to the PEA charge profiles. Homocharge injection at anode and cathode is seen at 20 kV/mm and a penetration of positive space charge in the bulk is detected above 100 kV/mm, suggesting an excitation of the continuous EL by bipolar charge recombination.