Synthesis and photo-induced charge separation of confined conjugation length phenylene vinylene-based polymers

Abstract

We report the synthesis and photophysics of four confined chromophore phenylene vinylene (PPV)-based polymers where PPV-type trimer chromophores are linked by alkyl ether chains of increasing length (PT3-PT6). These confined chromophore polymers were blended in a 1: 1 w/w ratio with the fullerene derivative PCBM and the photoinduced charge-separation properties compared to that of a fully conjugated polymer analogue (alt-co-MEH-PPV). Fluorescence from all polymers is quenched in the presence of PCBM and transient absorption measurements confirm the presence of polymer polarons arising from charge transfer from the polymer to the PCBM acceptor. The polaron decay kinetics of all the blend film..