Long-range dipole–dipole energy transfer enhancement via addition of SiO₂/TiO₂ nanocomposite in PFO/MEH-PPV hybrid thin films

Different weight ratios of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) (PFO)/poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) hybrid thin films, with and without a SiO₂/TiO₂ nanocomposite (NC), were successfully prepared using a solution blending method. All samples were deposited onto glass substrates by a spin coating technique to produce homogeneous thin films. The effect of the SiO₂/TiO₂ NC on the enhancement of the energy transfer mechanism in the PFO/MEH-PPV hybrids was investigated. The energy transfer parameters were calculated on the basis of the absorption and emission measurements. The long-range dipole–dipole energy transfer (Förster type) between the acceptor and donor molecules was enhanced in the presence of the SiO₂/TiO₂ NC in the hybrid thin films. The addition of the SiO₂/TiO₂ NC in the PFO/MEH-PPV hybrids reduced the distance between the donor and acceptor molecules more than the individual addition of SiO₂ or TiO₂ nanoparticles. Moreover, the direct relationships between the acceptor contents and energy transfer parameters, such as the energy transfer radius (R_DA), energy transfer efficiency (η), and energy transfer probability (P_DA), were estimated using theoretical fittings. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47845.