Traps for charge carriers in molecular materials formed by dipolar species: towards light-driven molecular switch

The influence of polar species on the transport and trapping of charge carriers is discussed. Calculations performed on a model molecular lattice demonstrate that polar dopants locally modify the polarization energy thus creating traps for charge carriers in the vicinity of the dipole. The presence of polar dopants in disordered solids gives rise to a broadening of the density-of-states function. A scheme of a molecular switch has been put forward, based on electrostatic interactions between photochromic moieties and charge carriers travelling on a molecular wire (conjugated polymer chain).