High PL quantum efficiency of poly(phenylene vinylene) systems through exciton confinement

Photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiency is a key issue in designing successful light-emitting polymer systems. Exciton relaxation is strongly affected by exciton quenching at nonradiative trapping centers and the formation of excimers. These factors reduce the PL quantum yield of light-emitting polymers. In this work, we have systematically investigated the effects of exciton confinement on the PL quantum yield of an oligomer, polymer, and alternating block copolymer (ABC) PPV system. Time-resolved and temperature-dependent luminescence studies have been performed. The ABC design effectively confine photoexcitations within the chromophores, preventing exciton migration and excimer formation. An unusually high (PL) quantum yield (above 90%) in the solid state is reported for the alternating block copolymer PPV, as compared to that of similar to 30% of the polymer and oligomer model compounds. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

1.54 mu m infrared photoluminescence and electroluminescence from an erbium organic compound

Infrared emission at 1.54 mu m excited optically and electrically from an erbium organic compound tris(acetylacetonato)(1,10-phenanthroline) erbium [Er(acac)(3)(phen)] is observed. The rare-earth complex is dispersed into a polymer matrix of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) to fabricate an electroluminescent (EL) device with an ITO/PVK:Er(acac)(3)(phen)/Al:Li/Ag structure, where ITO represents indium-tin-oxide-coated glass. The device shows infrared EL emission at 1.54 mu m, which suggests a simple and cheap method to obtain a light source for 1.54-mu m-wavelength devices in optical communications. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)00301-7].