Time-resolved emission spectra of poly(3-octylthiophene): energy migration in the π-conjugated polymer chain

The excited-state dynamics of poly(3-octylthiophene) in a dilute solution was studied by picosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy. The emission decay behavior was nonexponential and exhibited significant wavelength dependence. The decay of the longer wavelength emission is slower than that of the shorter wavelength emission and showed a rising component within 125 ps. Time-resolved emission anisotropy studies demonstrated aepolarization within 40 ps caused by the efficient energy migration along the π-conjugated chain.