Correlation between real inhomogeneous widths of zero-phonon absorption components and intermolecular interactions for dye-doped polymers

We measured the real inhomogeneous widths of the distribution composed of p urely electronic zero-phonon absorption components alone by using persisten t spectral hole-burning of tetraphenylporphine doped in several polymers. T he correlation between the inhomogeneous widths and the dye-polymer intermo lecular interactions is discussed by using a statistical theory. From the r esults, the main contribution to the inhomogeneous broadening is evaluated to be the van der Waals interaction, and the contribution of the dipole-dip ole interaction increases with the polarity of polymers. We also evaluated a linear correlation between the inhomogeneous widths and the solubility pa rameters of the polymers, which express the strength of the intermolecular interactions. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.