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Photodynamics of a PV Trimer in High‐Viscosity Solvents and in PMMA Films: A New Insight into Energy Transfer versus Conformational Relaxation in Conjugated Polymers
Author(s) -
Di Paolo Roberto E.,
Burrows Hugh D.,
Morgado Jorge,
Maçanita António L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.200800554
Subject(s) - intermolecular force , relaxation (psychology) , trimer , viscosity , polymer , solvent , chemistry , solvent effects , materials science , thermodynamics , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , composite material , psychology , social psychology , dimer , physics
Abstract Non‐Stokes–Einstein relaxation : The rate constant of conformational relaxation of a phenylenevinylene trimer (see picture) in different solvents is proportional to η − α , with α values decreasing from close to unity (low viscosity) to zero at sufficiently high solvent viscosity. This behaviour is attributed to the flexible methylbutyl side chains of the trimer, which partially screen the solvent friction.The p‐phenylenevinylene (PV) trimer (MBOPV3) was used to probe the effect of conformational relaxation on fluorescence decays of PV‐based polymers in the high solvent viscosity regime, from n ‐hexadecane (3.45 cP at 293 K) to liquid paraffin (123 cP at 293 K), and in dilute poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solid films. The effect of intermolecular energy transfer and radiative transport on the fluorescence decays was also analysed by increasing the concentration of MBOPV3 in the PMMA films up to a pure MBOPV3 film. The rate constant of conformational relaxation was found to decrease with increasing solvent viscosity up to about 23 cP, but then becomes viscosity independent. The non‐Stokes–Einstein behaviour of k CR versus η over the whole viscosity range apparently results from the presence of the flexible methylbutyl side chains of MBOPV3, which partially screens the solvent friction. Conformational relaxation is not observed in very dilute PMMA solid films, where the fluorescence decay becomes single exponential. The decays become multi‐exponential again with an increase of MBOPV3 concentration in the PMMA films, but in this case it is due to intermolecular (interchain) energy transfer from less planar to more planar conformations of MBOPV3. In the pure MBOPV3 film, interchain energy transfer (radiative and non‐radiative) is the major process responsible for the observed (tetra‐exponential) decays.