Photovoltaic effects of MDOPPV/PPy layer

Photoirradiation effects of a polypyridine, PPy/poly(2-methoxy-5-dodecyloxy -p-phenylene vinylene), MDOPPV heterostructure photoelectric conversion dev ice have been investigated. The photovoltaic characteristics of the heteros tructure photoelectric conversion device are considerably improved from tho se in single-layer photoelectric conversion devices. Quenching of photolumi nescence both in the PPy layer film and in the MDOPPV layer film has also b een observed in the PPy/MDOPPV heterostructure film. The observed photoirra diation effects of the heterostructure device indicate that a photo-induced charge transfer occurs between PPy and MDOPPV. However, the photo-induced charge transfer between these polymers cannot be explained by the bulk elec tronic energy states of the polymers. A possible mechanism, which takes mod ulation of electronic energy states at the interface due to a local lattice distortion into account, has been proposed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.