Förster-type energy transfer mechanism in PF2/6 to MEH-PPV conjugated polymers

Energy transfer mechanism between Poly[9,9-di-(2′-ethylhexyl)fluorenyl-2,7-diyl] (PF2/6) as a donor and poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) as an acceptor in different solvents has been studied using steady-state emission measurements. Four different solvents namely, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, chlorobenzene (C.B) and benzene have been used in this study. The absorption and luminescence behaviors of the samples are measured at a fixed concentration of donor (0.1 μM) while the concentrations for acceptor are kept in the range of 0.1–1.0 μM. Based on these measurements, the energy transfer properties namely quenching rate constant (kSV), energy transfer rate constant (kET), energy transfer probability (PDA), transfer efficiency (η) and critical distance of energy transfer (Ro) are calculated. The use of THF resulted in the highest energy transfer. Long range dipole–dipole interaction between the excited donor and ground state acceptor molecules is the dominant mechanism responsible for the energy transfer as proven by the large values of Ro.