Preparation of PVP/MEH-PPV composite polymer fibers by electrospinning and study of their photoelectronic character

Ultrafine polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) composite fibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning of PVP/MEH-PPV blend solutions in solvent mixtures of 1,2-dichloroethane/chlorobenzene. Composite polymer fibers with smooth surface were obtained using solutions in which MEH-PPV's concentration was 1.0 (wt.%). Compared with the MEH-PPV solution and bulk, PVP/MEH-PPV fibers show a significant blue shift, a stronger intensity of fluorescence and a higher surface photovoltage (SPV). The morphology of fibers has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence microscopy.