Study of solvent-conjugated polymer interactions by polarized spectroscopy: MEH–PPV and Poly(9,9′-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl)

Absorption, emission, and anisotropy measurements were performed on poly-[2-methoxy-5(2′-ethylhexyloxy)–1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH–PPV) and poly-(9,9′-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) (PF) solutions of various solvents, and in thin films deposited from them. The good correlation of MEH–PPV absorption and emission energy with Hildebrandtʹs dispersive parameter indicate that dispersive forces regulate the effective extent of the luminophore. The excitation and the emission spectra of α and β chains can be distinguished in PF solutions using the steady-state anisotropy. PF films show greater memory effect from the solutions from which they were spun than MEH–PPV. Anisotropy of MEH–PPV is very low, both in solutions and in films reflecting efficient energy migration. Anisotropy of PF in solutions and films demonstrates great differences in energy transfer efficiency within the α and β phases, while there is no energy transfer between these chain conformations.