Transient photo-current cross-correlation experiments were carried out on m
ethyl substituted ladder type poly(para-phenylene) (m-LPPP). In this experi
ment, the first pulse at 390 nm creates singlet excitons (S-0 --> S-1), tha
t are re-exited to a higher lying state by the time delayed second pulse at
780 nm (S-1 --> S-n). The change in (390 nm)-induced photo-current caused
by the 780 nm pulses is measured as a function of blue-red time delay. Our
measurements show that the charge generation rate is highly increased if th
e exciton is re-excited within the first picosecond, pointing out the role
of exciton migration in the ionization process. For longer time delays, we
see a charge generation rate, that follows the excited state population, su
ggesting enhanced dissociation from a higher lying state. (C) 2001 Publishe
d by Elsevier Science B.V.