Water absorption dependent photoconductivity of a freestanding polymer bridge

The photo-response of a freestanding constricted polymeric solid-state bridge of water soluble sodium poly[2-(3-thienyl)-ethoxy-4-butylsulfonate] (SPTEBS) was studied as a function of water vapor pressure. The dark current dramatically increases with water vapor pressure higher than 12 Torr. Surprisingly, under light illumination, the short-circuit current of the polymeric solid-state bridge decreases with increasing water vapor pressure so that, above 12 Torr of water vapor pressure, the short-circuit current under the light illumination is even lower than the dark current. This negative photo-response of the polymeric solid-state bridge is attributed to the self-doping by hydration of the polymer and the de-doping, possibly the result of photo-induced desorption of adsorbed water molecules.