Polaron-pair generation in poly(phenylene vinylenes)

The effects of weak magnetic fields on the photoconductivity of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and two derivatives, poly(1,4-phenylene-1,2-dimethoxyphenyl vinylene) (DMOP-PPV) and poly(2-phenyl-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (PPPV), were observed within the temperature range 130–350 K. These effects are attributed to the formation of interchain pairs involving a negative polaron and a positive polaron. A polaron pair is formed as a result of interchain electron transfer from a molecular exciton. The lifetime of a pair is estimated to be within the range of ${10}^{\mathrm{-}8–}$${10}^{\mathrm{-}9}$ s. Thermal dissociation of a polaron pair produces free charge carriers, and recombination of the pair regenerates a singlet or triplet exciton on a single conjugated segment of a chain.