Electronic transfer studies of fullerene / polymer hybrids

In this study we examine the interaction of both cis and trans poly(m-phenylenevinylene-co-2,5-dioctyloxy-pphenylenevinylene (PmPV-co-DOctOPV) with C₆₀ in solution From the presented data it is clear that there is an interaction between the HE PmPV and C₆₀. Just what this interaction is however is not as clear. A possible explanation that fits the available data involves the HE PmPV wrapping around the C₆₀ molecules, similar to the effect observed by Dalton et al with Carbon Nanotubes [1]. In theory the close proximately of the coils to the C₆₀ molecules may allow for charge transfer or energy transfer between to the two molecules. If this theory is correct it would explain the why the absorption spectra of HE-PmPV at the different loaded fraction displays a negative deviation for the expected values. It may be speculated that due to the coiling the C₆₀ molecules are prevented from absorbing photons of light, consequently resulting in a reduction in it's contribution to the overall intensity. This theory would also explain the increased quenching effect observed in the luminescence spectra at the same percentage weights, since the close proximity of the coils to the C₆₀ molecules allows for charge or energy transfer between the two.