Polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) films have been prepared by solution method. Their absorption spectra, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence have been studied. Absorption in pure PVK is found to be high at lower wavelengths in UV region and decreases in visible range. In case Of 12 doped PVK, absorption is observed in visible region also. The photoluminescence is obtained in pure PVK when exited by violet or blue light but in case Of 12 doped PVK, similar excitation gives low intensity peaks in yellow-green region. The results indicate that 12 levels in PVK causes absorption in 400-600 nm wavelength range and makes the deexcitation of the molecules nonradiative. Light emission by application of ac voltage from mains up to 100 V has been studied. Nonlinear increase in emission intensity has been observed with increasing voltage. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.