Molecular luminescence imaging

Imaging techniques relying on different luminescence processes are powerful bioanalytical tools for life sciences. They are used in multiplexed quantitative assays in different analytical formats and to assess the spatial distribution of a given target molecule, chemical or biochemical process in macro- and microsamples, including the in vivo evaluation of biological and pathological processes. Here, recent progresses in luminescence imaging techniques are described, including new labels for fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence and bio-chemiluminescence, multiplexed imaging microscopy techniques and whole-body luminescence imaging in live animals.     

Photoacoustic spectroscopy study on intramolecular energy transfer and relaxation processes of Tb(III) complexes

The photoacoustic (PA) amplitude spectra and luminescence spectra of different Tb(III) complexes (Tb(AA)3.2H2O Na[Tb(AA)4], Tb(AA)3bpy and Tb(AA)3phen) have been measured, and the PA phase shifts of the different complexes calculated. Combined with the luminescence spectra, the PA amplitude spectra reflected the variation of the luminescence efficiency and the PA phase is directly relative to the relaxation processes. According to the variation of the luminescence efficiency and the phase shift, the intramolecular energy transfer and relaxation processes of different Tb(III) complexes were discussed.     

Luminescent metal alkynyls - from simple molecules to molecular rods and materials

This review describes the design and synthesis of a number of luminescent transition metal alkynyls by this laboratory. The luminescence properties of the complexes have been studied and their emission origin elucidated. Some of these complexes have been shown to be ideal building blocks for the design and construction of luminescent molecular rods and materials, in which the luminescence properties can be readily tuned by changing the alkynyl ligands. Some of them also exhibited luminescence switching behaviour with the “ON-OFF” luminescence states modulated by redox processes, metal ion-binding or solvent composition.     

PHOTOCHROMISM AND LUMINESCENCE OF DOPANT CHROMOPHORES THROUGH TWO-PHOTON IONIZATION IN POLYMER FILMS

Two-photon ionization and recombination processes of an aromatic chromophore doped in polymer films werestudied and the features of these processes were discussed in relation to photofunctional polymers, An aromatic moleculehaving low ionization potential, e.g., N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine doped in poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) film was easily photoionized by intense laser ligh excitation, giving a colored radical cation (photochromism) anda trapped electron in PMMA matrix. As a reversed process, the radical cation recombined with the trapped electron, showingdiscoloration and emitting luminescence, either isothermal luminescence (ITL), or thermoluminescence (TL). In this report,ITL and TL through the charge recombination process were studied and the luminescence was suggested as a mean of the read-out of photorecording.     

V Centers and Hole-Photostimulated Luminescence of BaFCl Crystal

V centers (hole centers) and hole-photostimulated luminescence of BaFCl crystal are reported for the first time. The absorption bands of V1, V2 and V3 centers are peaking at 205, 238 and 355 nm respectively. V2 center creation by X-irradiation and decay during photostimulated luminescence process are synchronousl with that of F center. This indicates that V centers play the same roles as F centers in X-ray storage and photostimulated luminescence processes.     

Zur elektrochemischen lumineszenz an halbreitern

The electrochemical luminescence of aromatic compounds in aprotic solvents was investigated using the following semiconductor electrodes: n-GaP, n-ZnO and n-SnO₂. Electrochemical luminescence by direct heterogeneous electron transfer to the excited singlet or triplet state and subsequent luminescence could in no case be detected. The discussion of the mechanism of the redox processes involved is based on experimental observations and energetic correlations which were partly obtained by measuring the capacity of the semiconductor—solvent systems used. We presume that the directly excited states are deactivated by radiationless transitions due to a heavy atom effect. This conclusion was confirmed to the extent that the naphthalin luminescence was quenched by these semiconductors at 77 K.     

Energy transfer in solution of lanthanide complexes

The lanthanides with their well-defined energy levels provide an excellent basis to study different Ln(III)-specific energy transfer processes in a variety of chemical environments. The studies concerning intramolecular and intermolecular energy transfer processes with participation of Ln(III) ions and a variety of ligand groups in solution are reviewed. Phenomena of energy transfer from ligands to Ln(III) ions, resulting consequently in a great enhancement of the Ln(III) ion luminescence (ligand sensitized luminescence), as well as from Ln(III) to other species and between Ln(III) ions are presented.     

Excitation-Dependent Multicolour Luminescence of Organic Materials: Internal Mechanism and Potential Applications

Excitation-dependent emission (Ex-de) materials have been of considerable academic interest and have potential applications in real life. Such multicolour luminescence is a characteristic exception to the ubiquitously accepted Kasha's rule. This phenomenon has been increasingly presented in some studies on different luminescence systems; however, a systematic overview of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is currently absent. Herein, we resolve this issue by classifying multicolour luminescence from single chromophores and dual/ternary chromophores, as well as multiple emitting species. The underlying processes are described based on electronic and/or geometrical conditions under which the phenomenon occurs. Before we present it in categories, related photophysical and photochemical foundations are introduced. This systematic overview will provide a clear approach to designing multicolour luminescence materials for special applications.     

Photoresponsive Propeller-like Chiral AIE Copper(I) Clusters

A pair of propeller-like chiral trinuclear Cu^I clusters ( R/S-Cu3 ) with unique photoinduced fluorescence enhancement were prepared. R/S-Cu3 showed intense variable luminescence after UV light irradiation, which was attributed to the stepwise oxidation of ligand in the clusters. It exhibited typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) (α_AIE=17.3). Mechanism studies showed that metal cluster-centered (MCC) and triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (³MLCT) processes are the origin of the luminescence; the processes are regulated by a restriction of intramolecular motions mechanism in a different state. The chiral structure and AIE feature endow R/S-Cu3 with remarkable circularly polarized luminescence (g_lum=2×10⁻²) in the aggregated state. It shows good capability for producing reactive oxygen species. This work enriches the kinds of atomically precise AIE clusters, gains insight into their luminescence mechanism, and offers the prospect of application in multifunctional materials.     

The Processes of Crown-Substituted Magnesium Phthalocyaninate Dissolution in Water in the Presence of Alkyltrimethylammonium Bromides

Colloid Journal - Electronic absorption and luminescence spectroscopies have been employed to analyze the processes of octa-crown-substituted magnesium phthalocyaninate (Mgcr8Pc) dissolution in...     

Photoluminescence studies on rare earth titanates prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis method

The laser-induced luminescence studies of the rare earth titanates (R2Ti2O7) (R=La, Nd and Gd) using 355 nm radiation from an Nd:YAG laser are presented. These samples with submicron or nanometer size are prepared by the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) method and there is no known fluorescence shown by these rare earths in the visible region. Hence, the luminescence transitions shown by the La2Ti2O7 near 610 nm and Gd2Ti2O7 near 767 nm are quite interesting. Though La3+ ions with no 4f electrons have no electronic energy levels that can induce excitation and luminescence processes in the visible region, the presence of the Ti3+ ions leads to luminescence in this region.     

The kinetic of luminescence exchange promotion in rigid solutions

The influence of heavy atoms (promotor) on radiative and nonradiative transitions in luminescence processes is considered. A kinetic equation of the luminescence intensity in the presence of a promotor is obtained; moments of the kinetic curves are calculated. Experimental data on phosphorescence promotion by iodine ions are discussed for a number of aromatic compounds. A promotion effect of intensification of radiative and nonradiative transitions is observed.     

Photoresponsive Propeller‐like Chiral AIE Copper(I) Clusters

A pair of propeller‐like chiral trinuclear Cu^I clusters ( R/S‐Cu3 ) with unique photoinduced fluorescence enhancement were prepared. R/S‐Cu3 showed intense variable luminescence after UV light irradiation, which was attributed to the stepwise oxidation of ligand in the clusters. It exhibited typical aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) (α_AIE=17.3). Mechanism studies showed that metal cluster‐centered (MCC) and triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (³MLCT) processes are the origin of the luminescence; the processes are regulated by a restriction of intramolecular motions mechanism in a different state. The chiral structure and AIE feature endow R/S‐Cu3 with remarkable circularly polarized luminescence (g_lum=2×10^?2) in the aggregated state. It shows good capability for producing reactive oxygen species. This work enriches the kinds of atomically precise AIE clusters, gains insight into their luminescence mechanism, and offers the prospect of application in multifunctional materials.     

Magnetic Spin Effects in Photoprocesses inside Polymeric Photoconductors

Magnetic spin effects are detected and studied in the processes of sensitized current-carrier photogeneration and luminescence inside polymer photoconductor films based on polyimides and composites of polymers with carbazole moieties combined with electron acceptors (chemical sensitization) and dyes (spectral sensitization). The effect an electric field has on the quantum yield of photogeneration and the luminescence of excited charge-transfer complexes (reversible and irreversible effects) at spectral sensitization is studied in the presence of O₂.     

Temperature-dependent energy transfer in cadmium telluride quantum dot solids

Efficiently luminescing colloidal CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were used for the preparation of monodispersed and mixed size QD solids. Luminescence spectra and decay times of the QD emission were measured as a function of temperature to study energy transfer (ET) processes in the QD solids. In the luminescence decay curves of the emission of the largest QDs (acceptors), a rise time of the luminescence signal is observed due to energy transfer from smaller QDs. Both the rise time (a measure for the energy transfer rate) and the luminescence decay time lengthen upon cooling. This is explained by the decreased dipole strength of the excitonic emission of the QDs in the solid due to the presence of a singlet and a lower lying triplet level. Studies of energy transfer in heteronuclear QD solids reveal that single-step ET dominates.     

Evolution of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between close-packed CdSeS quantum dots under two-photon excitation

Energy transfer (ET) processes between quantum dots (QDS) were investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved up-conversion luminescence measurements. Two types of CdSeS QDs with different Se/S molar ratios at the similar sizes of ~4.5 nm emit green and orange up-conversion luminescence at infrared laser excitation, separately. The power dependence and nanosecond luminescent decays of QDs films demonstrated that up-conversion luminescence was attributed to two-photon absorption and ET process occurred from green-emitting QDs to orange-emitting QDs. The ET rate was estimated quantitatively to be 0.03 ns(-1) by Dexter theory. The decrease of ET rate is due to Se doped substituted in the Sulfur sites. The band-edge excitonic state is predominating at the initial time evolution and responsible for peak shift and ET. The surface emission of orange-emitting QDs becomes slower, and is attributed to the trapping of electrons from QDs donors.     

Isotopic effects on the time-dependences of 420 nm ice luminescence excited by UV light

The kinetics of the 420 nm luminescence emitted from H₂O and D₂O polycrystalline Ih ices have been studied over the 77 to 162 K temperature range. In the case of both H₂O and D₂O ices, it was found that the luminescence rise and decay curves consisted of two luminescence components, and superimposing two first-order curves with different rate constants gave the best fit to the decay and rise curves. The mean lifetimes of the two luminescence components were 1.08 ± 0.03 s and 2.47 ± 0.03 s. The rate constants were found to have negligible temperature dependences, which led to activation energies well below those obtained for either activation-limited processes or even diffusion-limited processes. Furthermore, it was found that the luminescence kinetics were not affected by isotopic substitution of D for H in the ice lattice. These observations suggest that the rate-determining step in the mechanism for the production of the luminescence is a slow (probably spinforbidden) electronic transition that can occur at two different rates due to the presence of two different types of trapping sites in the ice lattice. A possible candidate for the electronic transition is the ⁴Σ → X ²Π transition of excited OH^. radicals and not the previously suggested and ubiquitous A ²Σ⁺ → X ²Π transition of this species. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz 2006, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 709–721. This text was submitted by the authors in English.     

BaFCI:Tb晶体的热释发光和光激励发光

BaFCl:Tb晶体的光激励发光和热释发光过程为:在X射线辐照下,晶体中产生F色心,同时掺杂的Tb³⁺离子俘获空穴形成Tb⁴⁺离子。X线辐照后的晶体在可见光或热激励下,F色心中释放出的电子与Tb⁴⁺复合成Tb³⁺并处于激发态,随后发出Tb³⁺)子的跃迁辐射。     

PHOTOPHYSICAL PROCESSES IN TROPOLONE, α-METHOXY-TROPONE AND COLCHICINE

Abstract— The spectral characteristics of the emission observed from tropolone, α-methoxy-tropone and colchicine in EPA at 77 K are reported. Luminescence polarization, lifetime, quantum yield and energy transfer experiments provide evidence that the luminescence observed is S₁→ S₀ fluorescence and that the lowest excited singlet state is π, π* The two compounds α-methoxy-tropone and colchicine have been found to exhibit dual luminescence. No phosphorescence could be detected in these three molecules. The photophysical processes for each molecule are discussed and their respective energy level diagrams are also suggested.     

Visible emission characteristics from different defects of ZnS nanocrystals

Various sized ZnS nanocrystals were prepared by treatment under H(2)S atmosphere. Resonance Raman spectra indicate that the electron-phonon coupling increases with increasing the size of ZnS. Surface and interfacial defects are formed during the treatment processes. Blue, green and orange emissions are observed for these ZnS. The blue emission (430 nm) from ZnS without treatment is attributed to surface states. ZnS sintered at 873 K displays orange luminescence (620 nm) while ZnS treated at 1173 K shows green emission (515 nm). The green luminescence is assigned to the electron transfer from sulfur vacancies to interstitial sulfur states, and the orange emission is caused by the recombination between interstitial zinc states and zinc vacancies. The lifetimes of the orange emission are much slower than that of the green luminescence and sensitively dependent on the treatment temperature. Controlling defect formation makes ZnS a potential material for photoelectrical applications.