Photophysical characterisation of poly(p-pyridine)

We report measurements of the photophysical behaviour of poly(p-pyridine) (PPY), including thin film absolute photoluminescence quantum yield, solid and solution state photoluminescence properties. The photoluminescence quantum yield of PPY is stable in air consistent with its high oxidative stability. The large stokes shift and further shift in emission in the solid state will be explained in terms of ring torsion and ring distortion in the excited state.