Highly mobile electrons and holes on polyfluorene chains formed by charge scavenging in pulse-irradiated trans-decalin solutions

The microwave conductivity of trans-decalin solutions of the conjugated polymer poly(2,7-(9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene), PEHF, increases dramatically over tens to hundreds of nanoseconds subsequent to 5 ns pulsed irradiation. This is attributed to the reaction of the primary solvent electrons and holes with the polymer to form even more highly mobile electrons and holes on the polymer chains. Lower limits to the one-dimensional mobilities of electrons and holes on the polymer chains of ca 0.5 cm2/Vs are derived. Evidence is found for electron transfer to the polymer from CO2−.