Two-step field-induced singlet dissociation in a fluorene trimer

We time resolve the event of singlet separation into free carriers in an oligofluorene using femtosecond field assisted pump-probe technique. Steady state photoinduced absorption (PA) measurements have also been employed to identify triplet absorption (T₁-Tₙ) in the spectral region of 1.80.3em0exeV. As a result of an applied electric field of 2.20.3em0exMV∕cm singlets are observed to undergo a dissociation process consisting of first singlet splitting into bound polaron pairs and second further dissociation of polaron pairs into free carriers. Subsequent free carrier recombination yields a new population of singlets and triplets. Our results suggest that nongeminate recombination leads to the formation of 35% singlets and 65% triplets.