Photovoltaic measurement of the built-in potential in organic light emitting diodes and photodiodes

We measure the voltage at which the current under illumination in poly[2-methoxy, 5-(2-ethylhexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] based light emitting diodes is equal to the dark current. At low temperatures, this voltage, which we term the "compensation" voltage, is found to be equal to the built-in potential, as measured with electroabsorption on the same diode. Diffusion of thermally injected charges at room temperature, however, shifts the compensation voltage to lower values. A model explaining this behavior is developed and its implications for the operation of organic light emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells are briefly discussed. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.