Semiconducting polymer thin film devices were prepared from three novel 2,5-substituted poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives and OC1C10-PPV The novel PPV-derivatives, namely poly[2-methoxy-5-(triethoxymethoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (PEO-PPV), poly(2,5-bis(triethoxymethoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (diPEO-PPV) and poly[2-(n-nonyloxy)-5-(triethoxymethoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] ((PEO-OC9)-PPV), were obtained through the "sulfinyl precursor route". The electrical properties of the new materials, i.e. permittivity, conductivity, charge carrier mobility, and solar cell parameters, were compared to the results obtained with the well-known OC1C10-PPV, showing that the introduction of PEO-side chains yielded a systematic increase of the relative permittivity, while the mobility remained unchanged. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.