PHOTOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF FUNCTIONALIZED POLYIONENE COMPLEXES IN SOLUTIONS AND IN THE SOLID-STATE

Fluorescence steady state and time-resolved studies of hydrophobically modified polyionene systems prepared by exchange reaction with counte rions of aromatic and aliphatic character in the parent polymer were c onducted in DMF and water solutions as well as in solid films cast fro m these solvents. The effect of polyionene composition on excimer form ation and energy transfer has been examined for different types of cou nterions, that is: 1-pyrenesulfonate, 1-pyrenebutyrate, 2-naphthalene sulphonate and sodium dodecyl sulphate. In a DMF solution, excimer for mation was observed only for hydrophobically modified parent polyionen e samples. In an aqueous solution, excitation spectra and instantaneou s decay of fluorescence monitored at 480 nm suggest that excimer origi nates from paired chromophores in the ground state. For solid samples prepared from different solvents, the results indicate that various st ructures produced by solvent as the result of the self-organising inte ractions may be trapped in the solid state by polyelectrolyte. Such fi ndings might be interesting for a variety of new optically active mate rials. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.