Emission from aggregates of oligo-phenylene vinylenes: a recipe for superradiant H-aggregates

A theoretical analysis of emission in oligo-p-phenylene vinylene herringbon e aggregates shows that the radiative decay rate of the lower exciton band- edge can exceed that of a single molecule. Such superradiant H-aggregates r equire long-range orientational order and constructive interference between the off-axis molecular transition dipole moments. Excellent agreement with the experimental emission spectrum of p-distyrylbenzene nanoaggregates is obtained. Extensions are made to superradiant polymer aggregates, which cou ld have important optical device applications. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.