Photoinduced absorption of /spl pi/-conjugated polymers in solution

Summary form only given. Near steady state photoinduced absorption spectra of different types of /spl pi/-conjugated polymers in solution are reported. Long-lived neutral (triplet) and charged (polaronic and/or bipolaronic) photoexcitations are detected and characterized by their subgap absorptions, relaxation behavior, and pump intensity dependence. The ratio of neutral versus charged states formed after photoexcitation is discussed in relation to the nature of the solvent. The effect of acceptor molecules in efficient electron and energy transfer reactions with the photoexcited polymers is studied.