Photophysical properties of sigma-pi-conjugated alternating oligothienylene-oligosilylene polymers

UV-visible absorption and fluorescence properties of three series of sigma- pi-conjugated polymers (copolymers of alternative oligothienylene and oligo silylene units) have been studied in dioxane solution. The energies of the absorption maximum, fluorescence maximum, and the 0-0 transition are found to be Linearly dependent on the reciprocal of the number of thiophene rings in the repeating unit of the polymer chain, but almost independent of the silicon atom number. The sigma-pi-conjugation in the polymers results in re d shift in the absorption and fluorescence maxima, higher fluorescence quan tum yields, and longer fluorescence lifetimes of the polymers, with respect to their corresponding analogous alpha-oligothiophenes. (C) 1999 John Wile y & Sons, Inc.