VARIATIONS IN THE OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLY(3-HEXYLTHIOPHENE) C-60 BLENDS AND POLY(3-HEXYLTHIOPHENE)/SOL-GEL COMPOSITES/

We report the synthesis and characterization of thin photoemissive fil ms of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/C-60 blends. UV-Vis spectra of the P3HT/C-60 blends, with various amounts of C-60 added during film form ation, show significant blue shifts. This indicates that an intimate a ssociation forms between P3HT and C-60 which alters polymer chain conf ormation through complexation. Additionally, we have prepared a new ty pe of luminescent glass by a sol-gel technique. This method incorporat es P3HT into the final composite matrix as a semi-penetrating polymer network within the silica glass. This procedure yields glasses with no vel stimulated photoluminescent properties. By slightly varying the sy nthetic conditions of composite gel fabrication, these P3HT/sol-gel gl asses can be made to emit light from blue to red, so as to cover emitt ed light in the whole visible spectrum.