Förster energy transfer mechanism and color tunability in three binary conjugated polymer blends

• Published in: Optical materials 2021-06, Vol.116, p.111085, Article 111085
• Main Authors: Al-Bati, Sameer, Jumali, Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj, Ibtehaj, Khatatbeh, Al-Asbahi, Bandar Ali, Yap, Chi Chin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Binary blend; Conjugated polymer; Dexter energy transfer; Excimer; Förster resonance energy transfer
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111085

The energy transfer mechanism from poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) (PFO) to poly 9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole (F8BT) and to poly(2-methoxy-5(2-ethylhexyl)-1,4 -phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV), and from F8BT to MEH-PPV were comprehensively investigated. The concentrations of the donors in their binary blends were kept constant, while the acceptor concentration was carefully varied before reaching the complete emission quenching. The binary blend thin films were prepared using the solution blending method before they were spin-coated onto glass substrate. The UV–Vis absorption and emission spectra showed color emission shift towards the acceptor emission, confirming the energy transfer. These spectra were used to calculate important energy transfer parameters, such as the Förster radius (Ro), the distance between donor and acceptor molecules (RDA), energy transfer rate (kET), energy transfer efficiency (η), energy transfer probability (PDA), quenching constant (Ksv) and quenching rate constant (kq). The spectra also indicated that at high acceptor content the creation of excimer due to the molecule aggregation resulted in a red shift of the acceptor emission. In addition, the CIE coordinates proved the tunability of the color-emission. Finally, based on the calculated parameters, energy transfer mechanism in the three binary blends were suggested. [Display omitted] •The primary energy transfer mechanism in Polymer/Polymer blend is Förster-type.•Energy transfer in polymer/polymer blend enhances as acceptor content increases.•Acceptor molecules aggregation at high ratio leads to exciplex creation.•At high acceptor contents, donor and acceptor become closer, Dexter can be occurred.•The content of acceptor in the blend controls the emission-color.