Electronic structure of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) in the pristine and reduced state

The electronic structure of a polymer of interest in polymer-based light emitting devices, poly(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene), was studied using a combined experimental-theoretical approach. Results were compared with those of equivalent studies of the electronic structure of two related conjugated polymers: poly(p-phenylene) and a latter-type poly (p-phenylene) (LPPP). Finally, it was shown that electrons added to the polymer system lead to the formation of polarons at low doping levels, and bipolarons at high doping levels. The energies of the polaron and bipolaron states were measured directly, and agree with the theoretical modeling of the added electrons.