The Photophysics of Thin Polymer Films of Poly-(meta-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-para-phenylenevinylene)

Summary.  We have investigated the effect of film preparation procedures on the photoluminescence efficiency of the luminescent co-polymer poly-(m-phenylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene) (PmPV). The photoluminescence efficiency of PmPV films improved by up to 50% when the solution was degassed by bubbling argon gas through it prior to spin casting in an inert atmosphere and baking under vacuum. Photoinduced absorption and doping measurements show that this preparation method reduces polaron photogeneration, which reduces the photoluminescence (PL) yield through exciton quenching and excited state absorption. It is proposed that this sample preparation method increases interchain separation, reducing the formation of polarons and non-radiative quenching routes, thus resulting in increased PL efficiency. Received June 23, 2000. Accepted (revised) August 3, 2000