Conjugated polyelectrolytes’ solubilty, tunable absorption spectrum, large absorption cross section and tendency toward self-assembly make them an attractive class of materials to act as a light-harvesting and electronic energy transport layer in modular systems aimed at mimicking photosynthesis. Their photophysical properties are highly dependent on the complicated interplay between the polymer back-bone microstructure and on inter- and intra-chain aggregation. If conjugated polyelectrolytes are to be used in light harvesting applications then we must develop an understanding of how the formation of ionically bound donor-acceptor complexes effects their photophysical properties. I will discuss recent characterization of stable, oppositely-charged conjugated polyelectrolyte complexes by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence. These complexes exhibit rapid energy transfer from donor to acceptor and a &gt; 2 order-of-magnitude increase in acceptor quantum yield. This increase is unrelated to energy transfer from the donor, and is instead brought about by a planarization of the acceptor backbone as it templates to the donor upon complexation.

Photophysical changes driven by complexation of oppositely charged conjugated polyelectrolytes

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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