Charge-transfer complexes between polysilanes and acceptor molecules

The absorption spectra of the solutions of polysilanes like poly(methylphenylsilane) and poly(dihexylsilane) with various acceptors (tetracyanoquinodimetane, tetracyanonaphtoquinodimetane, and trinitrofluorenone) were investigated. It is shown that several new broad bands in visible region arise in the absorption spectra of polysilanes with addition of acceptors, which is accompanied by changes in the color of the solutions. These new bands are attributed to formation of CT-complexes between sigma-donor (polysilane) and pi-acceptor, i.e., polysilanes with admixture of acceptors can be used both as transport layers and photogeneration ones. The possible nature of the structure of the absorption bands of these CT-complexes is discussed.