Highly efficient energy and charge transfer in thin self-assembled multilayered polymer films

We report the synthesis and characterization of multilayer self-assembled p olymer films made from a water-soluble conjugated polymer, poly(2,5-methoxy -propyloxy sulfonate phenylene vinylene) (MPS-PPV). We observe a red shift, of both the absorption and fluorescence spectra with increasing numbers of active MPS-PPV layers. We attribute this red shift to changing polymer con formation and efficient energy transfer. Upon adding a water-soluble C-60 O r C-60-VBA copolymer top layer, the luminescence spectrum is strongly quenc hed due to charge transfer. The estimated charge transfer quantum efficienc y from PL quenching is similar to 95%. We discuss in detail the unidirectio nal energy transfer followed by charge transfer in the self-assembled multi layered films.