Photophysics of vinyl aromatic polymers

The experimental approaches required to characterize energy migration and excimer formation in vinyl aromatic polymers are considered. As an example the photophysical processes occurring in poly(acenaphthylene) (PACE) and water soluble acenaphthylene copolymers have been investigated using steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Excimer formation in these polymers is determined by both structural and dynamic factors. The difficulties in the application of fluorescence decay analyses to examine energy migration in polymers are discussed. For PACE with a 9-methylanthryl (9MA) end-group and the copolymers containing solubilized 9MA, energy migration and transfer can be demonstrated.