Space charge phenomena in polyimide films and effects of absorbed water

Polyimide is widely used as a high-temperature insulating material. Space charge distributions in polyimide (PI) films strongly depend upon electric field, temperature, water content and so on. We observed space charge distributions in PI films with various water contents. When a dc field was applied to as-received PI films or water-treated PI films, positive and negative homo space charges were observed near the respective electrodes at 333 K. In dried PI films, the homo space charges were much reduced, and positive and negative hetero space charges in the bulk were clearly observed. The space charge amounts in water-treated PI films were smaller than in as-received ones, while the current density in water-treated PI film was larger than that in as-received one by two or more orders of magnitude. These suggest not only that the charge injection from the electrode is enhanced by absorbed water but also that absorbed water makes carriers mobile. The decay of space charge was also faster in water-treated PI than in as-received or dried one. This also supports the enhancement of apparent mobilities of carriers in PI by absorbed water.