Nanoscale “Noise‐Source Switching” during the Optoelectronic Switching of Phase‐Separated Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract A method is developed to directly map nanoscale “noise‐source switching” phenomena during the optoelectronic switching of phase‐separated polymer nanocomposites of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) molecules dispersed in a polystyrene (PS) matrix. In the method, electrical current and noise maps of the nanocomposite film are recorded using a conducting nanoprobe, enabling the mapping of a conductivity and a noise‐source density. The results provide evidence for a repeated modulation in noise sources, a “noise‐source switching,” in each stage of a switching cycle. Interestingly, when the nanocomposite is “set” by a high bias, insulating PS‐rich phases shows a drastic decrease in a noise‐source density which becomes lower than that of conducting TTF‐PCBM‐rich phases. This can be attributed to a trap filling by charge carriers generated from a TTF (donor)–PCBM (acceptor) complex. In addition, when the film is exposed to UV, an optical switching occurs due to chemical reactions which lead to irreversible changes on the noise‐source density and conductivity. The method provides a new insight on noise‐source activities during the optoelectronic switching of polymer nanocomposites and thus can be a powerful tool for basic noise research and applications in organic memory devices.