A series of new pi-conjugated poly(anthracene-alt-fluorene)s with X-shaped repeating units were synthesized. The polymers were easily soluble in common organic solvents and had good film-forming abilities. They showed high absolute PL quantum yields in the solid state. The electroluminescent devices based on the three X-shaped polymers with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/polymer/LiF/Ca/Al emitted blue light with high brightness and low turn-on voltages. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.