Photophysical properties of a series of blue-emitting rigid-flexible polyethers in solution and in thin films

This work describes the photophysical properties of a new series of blue-emitting rigid-flexible polyethers in solution and in thin films, namely, poly(2 ", 5 " -dihexyloxy-p-quinquephenyl-4,4 " "-alpha,omega -dioxyalkylene). These polymers have high fluorescence yields and spectroscopic properties that can be tailored by choosing the appropriate rigid-flexible segment size. The polymers demonstrate a marked odd-even effect for both glass transition temperature and fluorescence quantum yield with respect to spacer length. Odd-even effects are usually observed in the solid state but the present polymers demonstrate odd-even effects in fluorescence efficiency even in solution. In addition, extensive spectral narrowing by waveguide gain can be obtained with a member of the series when deposited in a thin film. Their properties make these polymers interesting candidates for photonic applications. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.