Photoluminescence anisotropy of uni-axially aligned electrospun conjugated polymer nanofibers of MEH-PPV and P3HT

We report the preparation of the uni-axially aligned nanofibers containing poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) or poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) using the electrospinning technique. The emission anisotropy of the aligned conjugated polymer nanofibers was investigated using the luminescence polarization spectroscopy. The results revealed that the photoluminescence of the aligned nanofibers was highly anisotropic with stronger emission along the nanofiber axis; in contrast, the photoluminescence of random nanofibers and thin films showed weak emission anisotropy. These results suggested that the electrospun conjugated polymer nanofibers had macromolecular chains preferably oriented along the nanofiber axis. The study provides new guidance in the development of unique optoelectronic devices based on electrospun nanofibers of conjugated polymers.