Alteration of the photo and electroluminescent properties of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) upon addition of indium chloride

Abstract We investigate the modification of the optical properties of poly( p -phenylene vinylene), PPV, upon addition of indium chloride, InCl 3 , to its precursor solution. We find that the most significant decrease of the photoluminescence efficiency occurs after addition of ≈0.5% molar of InCl 3 to the PPV precursor. The PL efficiency either remains constant or increases, depending on the conversion conditions, for further increase of the salt content. Interestingly, we find instead that the electroluminescence efficiency increases upon addition of InCl 3 . Absorption and photo-deflection spectroscopy yield no evidence of charge-transfer doping of PPV+InCl 3 blends converted on spectrosil. We discuss these results in the context of previous reports on the indium–tin oxide influence on the transport and luminescent properties of PPV.