Electroabsorption in Conjugated Polymers

Abstract

Abstract Electroabsorption measurements are peformed with solution cast films of poly‐(dodecylthiophene) and poly‐(phenylphenylenevinylene). The spectra are described within the framework of second‐order Stark effect acting on an excitonic transitonic including field‐induced transfer of oscillator strength to higher lying states. The spatial extent of the exciton is two to three repeat units of the polymer backbone consistent with the notion that the absorbers are ordered subunits of the conjugated chain.