We present the electro-optical characteristics of LECs based on two copolymers derived from poly(p-phenylene vinylene), DB-alt-BTEM-PPV and BDMOS-co-BTEM-PPV, hating ion-transporting side groups. We find typical LEC behaviour upon addition of lithium triflate. Addition of poly(ethylene oxide), PEG, improves the EL efficiency, but the response time increases. We discuss these observations on the basis of PEG-induced phase separation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.