Electro-Absorption Spectroscopy on Poly(Arylene Vinylene)s

Abstract We report spectrally resolved electroabsorption (EA) measurements on poly(arylene vinylene)s. The materials poly(thienylene vinylene), PTV, and poly(p-phenylene vinylene), PPV, are particularly attactive as they can be prepared from soluble precursors which allow ready fabrication of films. The subsequent thermal conversion of the precursor yields samples with good optical and mechanical properties and environmental stability. Both materials give a strong electro-optic response, an induced change in the optical absorption leading to a refractive index change of order 10or applied electric fields between 25 and 100 kV/cm. The EA signal scales quadratically with applied field and shows an anisotropy of 2. 3 with respect to the polarisation of the incident light at the main peak.