The C 1s and O 1s core-level photoabsorption spectra of poly[2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl- hexoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) before and after exposure O2 and broadband visible light were recorded to determine the degradation pathway for this polymer. The change in the O 1s spectra as a function of exposure demonstrates that the O adds to the polymer chain to form a carbonyl group. Exposure to only O2 or only light causes no change in the C 1s or O 1s spectra. In the C 1s spectra, the change in the dependence on the photon angle of incidence after exposure demonstrates that O attacks the polymer at the double bond in the vinyl group thereby altering the extended conjugation of the polymer.
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Sutherland et al. (1996) studied this question.