AbstractA study of transient currents in discharging mode in vacuum aluminized pure and iodine doped ethyl cellulose (EC) films, approximately 20 μm in thickness, measured at various temperatures (303–353K) and applied fields (2.0 × 104−4.5 × 104V/cm) is described. The order of current has been found to increase considerably with increase in poling temperature, field and iodine mixing. The currents have been found to showI ∝︁ t−n(i.e. Curie–Von Schweidler law) time dependence with different slopes in the short and long time regions. The conductivity of the films is increased on doping with iodine. The dopant molecules are considered to act as additional trapping centres and provide a link between the polymer molecules in the amorphous region, thus resulting in the formation of a charge transfer complex. The results of the experiments and the mechanisms involved are discussed on the basis of avai