Temperature-dependent photoluminescence of polyazomethine films

We report absorption and first reliable photoluminescence (PL) studies at various temperatures on relatively thick films of the basic polyazomethine — PPI, i.e., poly(1,4-phenylene-methylidynenitrilo-1,4-phenylenenitrilomethylidine), prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Both absorption and PL spectra exhibit the vibronic progression due to the C–C stretching mode, characteristic for conjugated polymers. The absorption spectra appear to be practically temperature independent, in contrast to PL spectra, the intensity of which strongly decreases with increasing temperature. The origin of generally weak photoluminescence of PPI is suggested to be the result of a non-radiative electronic state occupied by the lone electron pair on the nitrogen orbital.