Electroluminescence of self-assembled films of poly (p-phenylene vinylene) and j-aggregates

The preparation of thin films of poly (p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and J-aggregates of a cyanjne dye (TDBC) is described. The films are prepared from aqueous solutions by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method using water soluble precursor of PPV and thermal conversion by heating of the whole film structure. The aggregates in solution are characterized by a narrow (FWHW 10 nm) absorption and fluorescence band at 590 nm. In PPV/J-aggregate films only the J-band emission of the aggregates is observed. The emission spectra are identical in photohiminescence and in electroluminescence. No spectral changes are observed between aggregates in solution and in the film.