Interchain Excitations in Conjugated Polymers

Abstract

The luminescence quantum yield is dramatically increased upon going from films to dilute blends or solutions of a soluble phenylenevinylene polymer. Nevertheless, direct measurements of the decay dynamics of the emissive excitons show that their lifetimes are not very different. Separation of the polymer chains suppresses interchain exciton formation, which otherwise competes favorably with the generation of emissive intrachain excitons in films. We discuss the consequences for the design of polymeric systems for optoelectronics.