Emission intensity and degradation processes of Alq(3) films

By studying the photoluminescence of Alq(3) films as a function of time exposure to open and dry atmospheres, it has been found that the emission intensity can be described in a meaningful physical way by four, and only four, exponential decays. If the morphological structure of the film is also taken into account, then it is deduced that the bulk of the film is composed of three different states of aggregation that have been called species 1, 2, and 3. This unexpected discovery opens new research scenarios in the basic and applicative aspects of the Alq(3) molecule. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society.