ENERGY MIGRATION AND TRANSFER IN STYRENE-CONTAINING POLYMERS WITH INHIBITED EXCIMER FORMATION

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques h ave been used to examine energy transfer and the migration of photoexc itation energy in styrene-containing polymer systems in which excimer formation is inhibited. In particular, copolymers of styrene and p-ter t-butyl styrene with acenaphthylene (ACE) acceptor chromophores have b een studied. Energy transfer efficiencies between styrene moieties and ACE chromophores incorporated as in-chain traps have been determined and are higher than predicted for a single-step Forster dipole-dipole energy transfer process. The results are discussed with reference to t he possible mechanisms for excitation energy transport in these polyme rs.