Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Isothermal annealing studies reveal long term increases in charge transfer fluorescence in spin-cast BTDA-ODA/MPD films. Due to the amorphous nature of these materials, the increase in charge transfer complex (CTC) population is attributed to thermally activated hindered rotation leading to local segmental correlations. This ordering process is driven by the non-equilibrium structure of the initially imidized film. Increased in-plane orientation at higher spin speeds produces a stress activation effect, lowering the energy barrier for segmental rotation.