聚集诱导发光现象的理论研究

本文系统介绍了本课题组发展的分子辐射跃迁和无辐射跃迁速率常数的热振动关联函数理论方法的最新进展及其在聚集诱导发光领域的典型应用. 基于第一性原理计算, 定量考察了位阻、温度、聚集等因素对分子体系发光性质的影响. 从微观角度给出了分子聚集诱导发光机理： 分子激发态的无辐射能量衰减通道主要是对应于低频模式的芳香环扭转和高频模式的碳碳伸缩振动. 当位阻增加、温度降低或者分子聚集时, 芳香环的转动受限, 无辐射能量衰减通道被抑制, 导致无辐射跃迁速率常数降低, 而其对辐射跃迁速率常数影响不大, 从而提高分子的荧光量子产率, 荧光增强.     

Nonradiative relaxation in thiophene-S,S-dioxide derivatives: the role of the environment

The intramolecular radiative and nonradiative relaxation processes of three thiophene-S,S-dioxide derivatives with different molecular rigidity are investigated in different solutions and in inert matrix. We show that the fluorescence quantum efficiency and the relaxation dynamics are strongly dependent on the environment viscosity, whereas they are almost independent of the environment polarity. We demonstrate that this strong dependence is due to an environment dependent nonradiative decay rate, whereas no relevant variations of the radiative decay rate are observed. We demonstrate that the dipole coupling with the solvent does not provide an efficient nonradiative decay channel and that the S(n) - S(1) vibrational relaxation is very efficient in all of the molecules and for all of the investigated environments. Moreover first-principles time-dependent density-functional theory calculations in the correct, i.e., excited-state, molecular conformation, suggest that significant contributions of intersystem crossing to the triplet manifold can be excluded. We then conclude that the main nonradiative process determining the fluorescence quantum efficiency of this class of molecules is S(1) - S(0) internal conversion (IC). An explanation for the IC rate dependence in terms of the environment viscosity, molecular rigidity, S(1) - S(0) energy-gap, and molecular volume is presented.     

Self‐Assembly and Aggregate‐Induced Enhanced Emission of Amphiphilic Fluorescence Dyes in Water and in the Solid State

1‐Cyano‐1,2‐bis(biphenyl)ethene (CNBE) derivatives with a hexa(ethylene glycol) group as an amphiphilic side chain were synthesized and the self‐assembling character and fluorescence behavior were investigated. The amphiphilic derivatives showed aggregate‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) in water and in the solid state. The fluorescence quantum yield increased as the rigidity of the aggregates increased (i.e., in ethyl acetate<in water<in the solid state). As determined from measurements of fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes, a key factor for the enhanced emission is suppression of the nonradiative decay process arising from restricted molecular motion. Additionally, the difference in the emission rate constant is not negligible and can be used to interpret the difference in fluorescence quantum yield in water and in the solid state.     

Quantum chemical insights into the aggregation induced emission phenomena: A QM/MM study for pyrazine derivatives

There have been intensive studies on the newly discovered phenomena called aggregation induced emission (AIE), in contrast to the conventional aggregation quenching. Through combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics computations, we have investigated the aggregation effects on the excited state decays, both via radiative and nonradiative routes, for pyrazine derivatives 2,3‐dicyano‐5,6‐diphenylpyrazine ( DCDPP ) and 2,3‐dicyanopyrazino phenanthrene ( DCPP ) in condensed phase. We show that for DCDPP there appear AIE for all the temperature, because the phenyl ring torsional motions in gas phase can efficiently dissipate the electronic excited state energy, and get hindered in aggregate; while for its “locked”‐phenyl counterpart, DCPP , theoretical calculation can only give the normal aggregation quenching. These first‐principles based findings are consistent with recent experiment. The primary origin of the exotic AIE phenomena is due to the nonradiative decay effects. This is the first time that AIE is understood based on theoretical chemistry calculations for aggregates, which helps to resolve the present disputes over the mechanism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Spectroscopic properties and hydration of the Cm(III) aqua ion from 10 to 85 °C

The optical absorption, fluorescence excitation, and emission spectra of the Cm(III) aqua ion in 0.001 M perchloric acid were studied in pure H(2)O, pure D(2)O, and in mixtures of H(2)O-D(2)O at temperatures from 10 to 85 °C. The quantum yield of the fluorescence of the Cm(III) aqua ion in pure H(2)O and D(2)O was also measured in this temperature range and the radiative decay rate constant was obtained from these data. The results indicate that, from 10 to 85 °C, the effect of temperature on the absorption, excitation, and emission spectra is very small. By correcting the observed decay rate constant for the radiative rate constant, a set of correlations between the observed fluorescence decay rate constant and the hydration number of Cm(3+) in H(2)O at temperatures from 10 to 85 °C was developed. A weak temperature dependence was observed for the nonradiative decay rate constant for the (6)D'(7/2)-(8)S'(7/2) transition and described by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy of the nonradiative decay was measured to be 0.9 kJ mol(-1), approximately matching the energy gap between the first and the second (A(1) and A(2)) levels of the metastable (6)D'(7/2) multiplet of the Cm(III) aqua ion. On the basis of these observations, it is postulated that the slight increase in the observed fluorescence decay rate constant as the temperature increases from 10 to 85 °C is due to the effect of thermal population of the A(2) level.     

A dynamic mean field theory for dissipative interacting many-electron systems: Markovian formalism and its implementation

To demonstrate its applicability for realistic open systems, we apply the dynamic mean field quantum dissipative theory to simulate the photo-induced excitation and nonradiative decay of an embedded butadiene molecule. The Markovian approximation is adopted to further reduce the computational time, and the resulting Markovian formulation assumes a variation of Lindblad's semigroup form, which is shown to be numerically stable. In the calculation, all 22 valence electrons in the butadiene molecule are taken as the system and treated explicitly while the nuclei of the molecules are taken as the immediate bath of the system. It is observed that (1) various excitations decay differently, which leads to different peak widths in the absorption spectra; and (2) the temperature dependences of nonradiative decay rates are distinct for various excitations, which can be explained by the different electron-phonon couplings.     

Structure and properties of licochalcone A-human serum albumin complexes in solution: a spectroscopic, photophysical and computational approach to understand drug-protein interaction

In the present contribution we address the study of the interaction of a flavonoid-derivative licochalcone A (LA) with human serum albumin (HSA). The application of circular dichroism, UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and laser flash photolysis combined with molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical calculations of rotational strength afforded a clear picture of the modes of association of the LA neutral molecule to HSA, evidencing specific interactions with protein amino acids and their photophysical consequences. The drug is primarily associated in subdomain IIA where a strong interaction with Trp214 is established. At least two different positions of LA with respect to tryptophan are possible, one with the phenolic ring of the drug facing the aromatic ring of Trp214 and the other with the methoxyphenolic ring of LA in proximity to Trp214. In both cases LA is at ca. 4 angstroms from Trp214. This vicinity does not affect much the S1 singlet state deactivation of the bound drug, which exhibits a slightly higher fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime on the order of that of the free molecule. The LA triplet lifetime appears to be somewhat shortened in this site. The secondary binding site is in subdomain IIIA. Here, the carbonyl group of LA experiences a strong H-bond with the OH-phenolic substituent of Tyr411. This interaction reduces substantially the LA molecular degrees of freedom, thereby determining a decrease of both radiative and nonradiative rate constants for decay of the singlet. The overall rigidity of the structure causes a lengthening of the triplet lifetime.     

Theoretical insight into the aggregation induced emission phenomena of diphenyldibenzofulvene: a nonadiabatic molecular dynamics study

The diphenyldibenzofulvene (DPDBF) molecule appears in two forms: ring open and ring closed. The former fluoresces weakly in solution, but it becomes strongly emissive in the solid phase, exhibiting an exotic aggregation-induced emission phenomenon. The latter presents a normal aggregation quenching phenomenon, as is expected. We implement nonadiabatic molecular dynamics based on the combination of time-dependent Kohn-Sham (TDKS) and density functional tight binding (DFTB) methods with Tully's fewest switches surface hopping algorithm to investigate the excited state nonradiative decay processes. From the analysis of the nonadiabatic coupling vectors, it is found that the low frequency twisting motion in the ring open DPDBF couples strongly with the electronic excitation and dissipates the energy efficiently. While in the closed form, such motion is blocked by a chemical bond. This leads to the nonradiative decay rate for the open form (1.4 ps) becoming much faster than the closed form (24.5 ps). It is expected that, in the solid state, the low frequency motion of the open form will be hindered and the energy dissipation pathway by nonradiative decay will be slowed, presenting a remarkable aggregation enhanced emission phenomenon.     

Quantum chemistry study on internal conversion of diphenyldibenzofulvene in solid phase

We investigate the nonradiative decay process of diphenyldibenzofulvene (DPDBF) in solid phase by using the quantum chemistry methods. To carry out the nonradiative rate constant calculation, we construct a solid phase model based on the ONIOM method. The geometry of the DPDBF molecule is optimized for the ground state by DFT and the first excited state by TD-DFT, and the corresponding vibrational frequencies and normal coordinates are computed. Under displaced-distorted harmonic oscillator potential approximation, Huang-Rhys factors are obtained. Vibronic coupling constants are calculated as a function of the normal mode based on Domcke's scheme. We find that vibronic coupling constants of 12 modes with large reorganization energies are of similar order, and if this result is still valid for other modes, the internal conversion rate would be determined by high frequency modes because they have a significant nuclear factor that is related to Franck-Condon overlap intergrals. We also find that geometrical changes are suppressed due to the stacking effect, which yields small Huang-Rhys values in the solid phase.     

Comparison of photophysical properties of the hemicyanine dyes in ionic and nonionic solvents

The fluorescence properties of 4-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-1-n-alkylpyridinium bromide (hemicyanine) dissolved in solvents of different polarities and viscosities (methanol, ethylene glycol, tetra-ethylene glycol, glycerol, benzyl alcohol, pyridine, and two ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIM]BF4, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [BMIM]PF6) were investigated. Significant increase in the fluorescence quantum yield and the fluorescence decay lifetime was observed with the increase in the viscosity of the solvent medium. It is because the intramolecular rotational motion of the molecule becomes more difficult in viscous liquid, which leads to a decrease in the nonradiative decay processes. The fluorescence quantum yields for all of the solutions followed a semiempirical law that depends only on the solvent viscosity. The correlation function C(t) was obtained for each solution by joining fluorescence decay curves measured at different wavelengths. From the fitted results of C(t), we observed the distinctive feature unique to the ionic liquids, in which the correlation functions for ionic liquid solutions are fitted to be biphasic, while they are monophasic for other solvents. The fluorescence maximum of hemicyanine dissolved in these ionic liquids red-shifted following the increase in the excitation wavelength.     

New Method for Determining H-Bond Energy: Fluorescence from Neutral Red in Water Compared to Fluorescence from Neutral Red in Benzene

A new method is presented for determining the H-bond energy between a fluorescent solute and water. In the current example the hydrogen-bond energy between neutral red (NR) and water was measured. The H-bond energy was obtained from the temperature dependence of the ratio of the 625 nm fluorescence intensity from NR in water, which increases with increasing temperature, to that of the 530 nm intensity from NR in benzene, which decreases with increasing temperature. The H-bond energy so determined is (10050 ± 60) J-mol⁻¹, which compares favorably with an H-bond E_HB value for pure water of 10170 J-mol⁻¹. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding between water and NR increases the nonradiative deactivation process of the excited molecule due to fast energy dissipation through the vibrations associated with the hydrogen bonds. Some of the hydrogen bonds are broken with an increase in temperature, resulting in an increase in the number of free NR molecules, thus increasing the fluorescence quantum yield.     

Solvent influence on photochemical isomerizations: Photophysics of DODCI

We have studied the photophysics of DODCI dissolved in a series of polar solvents. Through measurements of the temperature dependence of the photoisomer quantum yield, fluorescence lifetime and fluorescence quantum yields we clarify the kinetic mechanism for nonradiative decay. By measuring the isomerization rate as a function of temperature at constant viscosity we are able to separate the innuence of internal barriers and solvent viscous drag. The apparent activation energy observed in solutions is less than the sum of the internal and viscosity activation energies. This is shown to be consistent with the full Kramer's rate expression for diffusive barrier crossing. We also establish the temperature dependence of a second “direct” internal conversion process which does not lead to photoisomer formation and dominates the nonradiative decay of DODCI at low temperatures or in a rigid matrix.     

Computational studies on the excited state decay rates in aggregates of two-coordinate Cu (I) complexes: Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence and Aggregation Induced Emis

Two-coordinate Cu (I) complexes have attracted great interest recently because of the rich photophysical property in solid state, including the aggregation-induced thermal activated delayed fluorescence. Here, we summarize our theoretical investigations on the excited state structure and decay dynamics for the two-coordinate Cu (I) complexes in solution phase and solid state by the thermal vibration correlation function rate formalism we developed earlier coupled with time-dependent density-functional theory within polarizable continuum model and hybrid quantum and molecular mechanics. First, for the CAAC Cu (I) Cl complex, we found that the nature of the excited state undergoes a change from metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in solution to hybrid halogen-to-ligand charge transfer and MLCT in solid state. The bending vibrations of the C Cu Cl and Cu C N bonds are restricted in aggregates, reducing the non-radiative decay rate to cause strong solid-state fluorescence. Second, for CAAC Cu (I) Cz, we found that both intersystem crossing (ISC) and reverse intersystem crossing (rISC) are enhanced by 2–4 orders of magnitudes upon aggregation, leading to highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The enhanced ISC and rISC rates can be attributed to the increase of the metal proportion in the frontier molecular orbitals, leading to an enhanced spin−orbit coupling between S₁ and T_1. The reaction barriers for ISC and rISC are much lower in solution than that in aggregate phase resulting in a decrease in energy gap $∆E_{\mathrm{ST}}$ and an increase in the relative reorganization energy through bending the angle ∠C − Cu − N for T₁. Our theoretical studies provide a clear rationalization for the highly efficient solid-state luminescence character of two-coordinate Cu (I) complexes and may clarify the ongoing dispute on the understanding of the high TADF quantum efficiency.     

Conformationally dynamic π-conjugation: probing structure-property relationships of fluorescent tris(N-salicylideneaniline)s

We recently reported the design and synthesis of a series of conformationally dynamic chromophores that are built on the C(3)-symmetric tris(N-salicylideneaniline) platform. This system utilizes cooperative structural folding-unfolding motions for fluorescence switching, which is driven by the assembly and disassembly of hydrogen bonds between the rigid core and rotatable peripheral part of the molecule. Here, we report detailed time-resolved spectroscopic studies to investigate the structure-property relationships of a series of functionalized tris(N-salicylideneaniline)s. Time-resolved fluorescence decay spectroscopy was applied to determine the main relaxation mechanisms of these π-extended fluorophores, and to address the effects of hydrogen bonding, steric constraints, and extension of the π-conjugation on their relaxation dynamics. Our results agree well with the conformational switching model that was previously suggested from steady-state experiments. Notably, extension of the π-conjugation from peripheral aryl groups resulted in the stabilization of the excited states, as evidenced by longer lifetimes and lower nonradiative decay constants. As a consequence, an increase in the fluorescence quantum yields was observed, which could be explained by the suppression of the torsional motions about the C-N bonds from an overall increase in the quinoid character of the excited states. A combination of time-resolved and steady-state techniques also revealed intermolecular interactions through π-π stacking at higher concentrations, which provide additional de-excitation pathways that become more pronounced in solid samples.     

Structures, electronic states, photoluminescence, and carrier transport properties of 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsiloles

The excellent electroluminescent (EL) properties of 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsiloles, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylsilole (MPPS), and 1,1,2,3,4,5-hexaphenylsilole (HPS) have been found. Despite some studies devoted to these materials, very little is known about the real origin of their unique EL properties. Therefore, we investigated the structures, photoluminescence (PL), and charge carrier transport properties of 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsiloles as well as the effect of substituents on these characteristics. The single crystals of the three siloles involving 1,1-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole (DMTPS), MPPS, and HPS were grown and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. Three siloles have nonplanar molecular structures. The substituents at 1,1-positions enhance the steric hindrance and have predominant influence on the twisted degree of phenyl groups at ring carbons. This nonplanar structure reduces the intermolecular interaction and the likelihood of excimer formation, and increases PL efficiency in the solid state. The silole films show high fluorescence quantum yields (75-85%), whereas their dilute solutions exhibit a faint emission. The electronic structures of the three siloles were investigated using quantum chemical calculations. The highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are mainly localized on the silole ring and two phenyl groups at 2,5-positions in all cases, while the LUMOs have a significant orbital density at two exocyclic Si-C bonds. The extremely theoretical studies of luminescent properties were carried out. We calculated the nonradiative decay rate of the first excited state as well as the radiative one. It is found that the faint emission of DMTPS in solutions mainly results from the huge nonradiative decay rate. In solid states, molecular packing can remarkably restrict the intramolecular rotation of the peripheral side phenyl ring, which has a large contribution to the nonradiative transition process. This explains why the 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsiloles in the thin films exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields. The charge carrier mobilities of the MPPS and HPS films were measured using a transient EL technique. We obtained a mobility of 2.1 x 10(-)(6) cm(2)/V.s in the MPPS film at an electric field of 1.2 x 10(6) V/cm. This mobility is comparable to that of Alq(3), which is one of the most extensively used electron transport materials in organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs), at the same electric field. The electron mobility of the HPS film is about approximately 1.5 times higher than that of the MPPS film. To the best of our knowledge, this kind of material is one of the most excellent emissive materials that possess both high charge carrier mobility and high PL efficiency in the solid states simultaneously. The excellent EL performances of MPPS and HPS are presumably ascribed to these characteristics.     

Spectroscopic and photophysical properties of hexanuclear rhenium(III) chalcogenide clusters

The electronic, vibrational, and excited-state properties of hexanuclear rhenium(III) chalcogenide clusters based on the [Re(6)(mu(3)-Q)(8)](2+) (Q = S, Se) core have been investigated by spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Ultraviolet or visible excitation of [Re(6)Q(8)](2+) clusters produces luminescence with ranges in maxima of 12 500-15 100 cm(-)(1), emission quantum yields of 1-24%, and emission lifetimes of 2.6-22.4 microseconds. Nonradiative decay rate constants and the luminescence maxima follow the trend predicted by the energy gap law (EGL). Examination of 24 clusters in solution and 14 in the solid phase establish that exocluster ligands engender the observed EGL behavior; clusters with oxygen- or nitrogen-based apical ligands achieve maximal quantum yields and the longest lifetimes. The excited-state decay mechanism was investigated by applying nonradiative decay models to temperature-dependent emission experiments. Solid-state Raman spectra were recorded to identify vibrational contributions to excited-state deactivation; spectral assignments were enabled by normal coordinate analysis afforded from Hartree-Fock and DFT calculations. Excited-state decay is interpreted with a model where normal modes largely centered on the [Re(6)Q(8)](2+) core induce nonradiative relaxation. Hartree-Fock and DFT calculations of the electronic structure of the hexarhenium family of compounds support such a model. These experimental and theoretical studies of [Re(6)Q(8)](2+) luminescence provide a framework for elaborating a variety of luminescence-based applications of the largest series of isoelectronic clusters yet discovered.     

Photoisomerization of the green fluorescence protein chromophore and the meta- and para-amino analogues

The Z --> E photoisomerization and fluorescence quantum yields for the wild-type green fluorescence protein (GFP) chromophore (p-HBDI) and its meta- and para-amino analogues (m-ABDI and p-ABDI) in aprotic solvents (hexane, THF, and acetonitrile) and protic solvents (methanol and 10-20% H(2)O in THF) are reported. The dramatic decrease in the quantum yields on going from aprotic to protic solvents indicates the important role of solvent-solute hydrogen bonding in the nonradiative decay pathways. The enhanced fluorescence of m-ABDI is also discussed.     

Triplet formation involving a polar transition state in a well-defined intramolecular perylenediimide dimeric aggregate

A cofacially stacked perylenediimide (PDI) dimer with a xanthene linker was studied under a variety of conditions (solvent, temperature) and serves as a model for the molecular interactions occurring in solid films. Intrinsically, the PDI units have a fluorescence quantum yield (Phi F) close to unity, but Phi F is lowered by a factor of 6-50 at room temperature when two PDI moieties are held in a cofacial arrangement, while the decay time of the most emissive state is increased significantly (tau F = 27 ns in toluene) compared to a monomeric PDI molecule (tau F = 4 ns). Fluorescence measurements show a strong solvent and temperature dependence of the characteristics of the emissive excited state. In a glassy matrix of toluene (TOL) or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF), Phi F is high, and the decay time is long (tau F = approximately 50 ns). At higher temperature, both Phi F and tau F are reduced. Interestingly, at room temperature, Phi F and tau F are also reduced with increasing solvent polarity, revealing the presence of a polar transition state. Photoinduced absorption of the stacked molecules from the picosecond to the microsecond time scale shows that after photoexcitation reorganization occurs in the first nanoseconds, followed by intersystem crossing (ISC), producing the triplet excited state. Using singlet oxygen ( (1)Delta g) luminescence as a probe, a triplet quantum yield (Phi T) greater than 50% was obtained in air-saturated 2-Me-THF. Triplet formation is exceptional for PDI chromophores, and the enhanced ISC is explained by a decay involving a highly polar transition state.     

Fluorescence quantum yields and their relation to lifetimes of rhodamine 6G and fluorescein in nine solvents: improved absolute standards for quantum yields

Absolute fluorescence quantum yields are reported for the rhodamine 6G cation and the fluorescein dianion dyes in nine solvents. This information is combined with previously reported fluorescence lifetimes to deduce radiative and nonradiative decay rates. Along the alcohol series from methanol to octanol, rhodamine 6G displays an increasing radiative rate, in parallel with the square of the refractive index increase, and a slightly decreasing nonradiative rate. Fluorescein is different: the apparent radiative rate actually decreases, suggesting that the emissive species is perturbed in some fashion. For both dyes, fluorescence yields are enhanced in D2O, rising to 0.98, in parallel with a corresponding increase in lifetimes. Protonated solvents invariably give shorter lifetimes and lower quantum yields, contrary to some previous speculation. From this work and an analysis of existing literature values, more precise values have been obtained for two previously proposed absolute quantum yield standards. The yield of fluorescein in 0.1 N NaOH(aq) is 0.925+/-0.015, and for rhodamine 6G in ethanol, it is 0.950+/-0.015. In both cases, the solutions are assumed to be in the limit of low concentration, excited close to their long-wave absorption band and at room temperature but may be either air-saturated or free of oxygen.     

TIME-RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES ON PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BENOXAPROFEN IN MICELLAR SOLUTIONS: AN INTRAMICELLAR FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING

The micellar dependencies of the photophysical properties of benoxaprofen (BXP), a 2-phenyl benzoxazole derivative, have been investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis techniques. The fluorescence of BXP in aqueous solution has been observed to be remarkably quenched upon addition of a surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) or Triton X-100, in contrast to its enhancement in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solution. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements show that the fluorescence decays biexponentially in the micellar solution, indicating the relaxation of micellar environments surrounding the excited BXP. The major component of fluorescence lifetimes in CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar phase is even shorter (330–427ps) than in SDS micellar phase (731 ps). The nonradiative decay constants are significantly larger (ca 3.0 times 10⁹ s^?1) in the CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar phase than in SDS micelles by a factor of ca 10. The major nonradiative decay is interpreted to be the internal conversion due to nuclear geometric change of BXP in the first excited singlet state. This is consistent with the observation that the quantum yields of intersystem crossing are very low (less than 0.01) in the micellar solutions as determined by the laser flash photolysis technique. The laser-induced transient absorption spectrum of BXP in CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar solution shows that the decay kinetics of the transients in CTAB or Triton X-100 are significantly different from first order kinetics in SDS.