Composite thin films of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) and the polyelectrolyte N
afion have been prepared by the polymerization of 1,1'-[(p-phenylene)bis(me
thylene)bis [tetrahydrothiophenium] dichloride electrostatically bound to N
afion. The composite films are strongly fluorescent. The absorption and pho
toluminescence spectra of the films have been measured and are similar to t
hose of poly(p-phenylenevinylene). X-ray microanalysis and weight gain expe
riments performed on the films suggest that the dicationic monomer occupies
less than 15% of the cation exchanging sites in the Nafion, leaving sites
available for binding of additional small cations.