Photo‐oxidation of poly(<i>p</i>‐phenylenevinylene)

Abstract

The operating lifetime of light‐emitting devices (LEDs) based on poly( p ‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV), one of the most widely used conjugated polymers for polymer‐based LEDs, is sensitive to air exposure. The effects associated with the photo‐oxidation of PPV in air are examined. Possible photo‐induced oxidation products are proposed based on simulations using stilbene as a model compound. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and quantum‐chemical calculations all indicate that a series of photo‐oxidation products from on the surface of the PPV thin films.