Towards highly luminescent phenylene vinylene films

Abstract Fluorescence and electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence decay curves and fluorescence quantum yields of a series of oligo (p-phenylene vinylenes) are investigated in solution, nanoaggregates and vapour-deposited or cast ultrathin films. The film constituting molecules are varied in chain length and modified by electron donating and withdrawing substituents and bulky alkyl spacers. PPP-MO calculations serve to rationalize the resulting spectral changes. In dilute solutions, fluorescence yields of the short oligomers with alkyl or oxyalkyl substituents approach the region of unity. The yields decrease with chain length, reaching a long-chain limit of ΦF=0.4–0.7. Introduction of …