Electron transport properties of air-exposed one-dimensional uneven peanut-shaped C60 polymer films

The electron transport properties of an air-exposed one-dimensional (1D) uneven peanutshaped C60 polymer film were investigated by examining the temperature dependence (30–350 K) of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Arrhenius plots of the resistance as a function of temperature showed two different electron conduction mechanisms. At temperatures above 140 K, it was found that electrons are conducted via a thermal excitation hopping mechanism, and the activation energy changed discontinuously from 124 to 99 meV at ca. 190 K because of a change in the 1D polymer chain–chain interactions. On the other hand, at temperatures below 100 K, the electron conduction behavior is consistent with a 2D variable-range hopping mechanism.

► We examined the electron conduction of one-dimensional peanut-shaped C60 polymer.
► The electron conduction occurred via two different mechanisms.
► One is based on thermal excitation hopping at temperatures above 140 K.
► The other one is based on variable range hopping at temperatures below 100 K.