Effect of a ferroelectric polymer on the photophysical properties of a polyfluorene: Exciton quenching by local electric fields

The photophysical properties of conjugated polymers are sensitive to the environment; hence they can be used as probe for local interactions. Here we report on the effect of a ferroelectric polymer in the photoluminescence of a conjugated polymer and show that the local electric field, created by the ferroelectric polymer, induces a photoluminescence quenching, translated into a reduction of the fluorescence intensity and lifetime. Blends and bi-layer systems were studied, with the blends showing a more pronounced effect.