Pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance in organic semiconductors

Carbon-based materials have an intrinsically weak spin-orbit coupling which imposes spin selection rules on many electronic transitions. The spin degree of freedom of electrons and nuclei can therefore play a crucial role in the electronic and optical properties of these materials. Spin-selection rules can be studied via magnetic resonance techniques such as electron-spin resonance and optically detected magnetic resonance as well as electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR). The latter has progressed in recent years to a degree where the observation of coherent spin motion via current detection has become possible, providing experimental access to many new insights into the role that paramagnetic centers play for conductivity and photoconductivity. While mostly applied to inorganic semiconductor materials such as silicon, this new, often called pulsed-(p) EDMR spectroscopy, has much potential for organic (carbon-based) semiconductors. In this study, progress on the development of pEDMR spectroscopy on carbon-based materials is reviewed. Insights into materials properties that can be gained from pEDMR experiments are explained and limitations are discussed. Experimental data on radiative polaron-pair recombination in poly[2-methoxy-5-(20-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) are shown, revealing that under operating conditions the driving current of the device can be modulated by spin-Rabi nutation of the polaron spin within the charge carrier pairs. From this experimental data it becomes clear that for polaron pairs, the precursor states during exciton formation, exchange interaction is not the predominant influence on the observed pEDMR spectra.