Influence of carbazol-9-yl substitution in polysilanes on charge carrier trapping and recombination

A series of poly{[3-(carbazol-9-yl)propyl]silane-co-methylphenylsilane}s were investigated by optical absorption, photoluminescence and thermoluminescence measurements. It was found that the optical absorption bands of the carbazolyl side groups superimpose on those of the Si backbones in the ultraviolet range. This feature reduces photodegradability of Si-Si bonds during UV irradiation. The TL spectra recorded in the 15 - 325 K temperature range after photoexcitation at 15 K show that the carbazolyl side groups act as trapping sites in polysilanes. Increasing density of carbazolyl groups results in increasing population of deeper (ca. 150 meV) traps. Spectral analyses of the thermoluminescence at different temperatures are discussed and compared with analogous results for poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). It is concluded that the monomeric mechanism of luminescence dominates at low temperatures while the excimeric mechanism prevails at higher temperatures, similarly to PVK.