Photoexcitations in composites of poly(paraphenylene vinylene) and single-walled carbon nanotubes

Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) studies have been carried out on pristine standard poly(paraphenylene vinylene) PPV and a series of PPV-single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) composite films. Drastic changes in the PL and absorption spectra are observed with the increase of the SWNT fraction. A model is presented which is able to explain quantitatively the modification of absorption spectra, and particularly the new features in PL spectra as a function of SWNT percentages in the films. We provide evidence for strong electronic interaction between SWNT and the PPV polymer precursor precluding the complete thermal conversion of the polymer matrix.