Intrinsic and extrinsic constraints on phenylenevinylene polymer electroluminescence

Studies of phenylenevinylene polymer photophysics show that luminescence yield is reduced by interchain charge transfer quenching of excitons. We present evidence that non-emissive interchain excitons also play a role in electroluminescent devices and describe one synthetic strategy to reduce their importance. Addition of oxidation defects can further reduce luminescence yield and the mechanism for this is clarified by studies of model oligomers.