Thermodynamics of electron transport in amorphous insulators

Excess electrons can be introduced into insulators by ionizing radiation or electrical discharge. We present a theory of the electron drift velocity in insulating liquids and glasses which is based upon the assumption of a dynamic equilibrium existing between electrons in traps and electrons in the conduction band. Using statistical thermodynamics, we relate the electron drift mobility to parameters which can be operationally defined in terms of experiments. Among these parameters are the electron effective mass in the conduction band, the Hall mobility, the photocurrent threshold energy, the volume fraction of the traps, and the coordination number and vibrational frequencies of the atoms binding the electron to the trap.

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