The mobility measurement of positive charge carrier in n-hexane

The mobilities of negative ions in liquid dielectrics have been investigated by many researchers. On the other hand, there have been only limited reports on the mobility of positive carriers. To clarify the mechanisms of electrical conduction and breakdown in dielectric liquids, it is also very important to measure the mobilities of positive charge carriers including holes. In this paper the mobility of positive charge carrier in n-hexane was measured by using a thin film tunnel emitter (Al/spl middot/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//spl middot/SiO/spl middot/Au). This tunnel emitter has excellent features to inject either electrons or holes into a liquid. The mobility was estimated from the transient currents with the time of flight method. The mobility of positive charge carrier was a constant value, 4.7/spl times/10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2/ V/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ for applied field strengths ranging from 50 to 140 kV cm/sup -1/. We discuss the carrier species including possible holes.