Circularly polarized emission from a narrow bandwidth dye doped into a chiral nematic liquid crystal

We report on circularly polarized light emitted from a chiral nematic liquid crystal doped with a luminescent organolanthanide dye. The organolanthanide emission displays an extremely narrow spectral bandwidth of Δ λ_E≈ 8 nm. This is considerably narrower than the CNLC selective reflection bandwidth Δ λ_R≈60 nm. When conventional dyes with broader emission bandwidths are dissolved into CNLCs, the average degree of circular polarization g of emitted light is reduced from the maximum degree g _MAX ; this is due to the overlap of the emission band with the reflection band edges, and spectral regions outside the reflection band. Here, however, we can place the entire emission band inside the reflection band and achieve g ≈ g _MAX=1.27. Furthermore, a high degree of circular polarization is maintained under off-axis viewing up to a viewing angle of ≈ 30° to the normal.     

Optical birefringence and dichroism in physical steroid organogels

Optical birefringence and dichroism have been studied in physical steroid organogels. We have used two complementary derivatives (SNH and SNO*) in cyclohexane: the former has no chromophoric group in the 220-800 nm wavelength range studied, in contrast with the latter. The dichroism is mainly due to linear contributions. The amplitude of the signal is correlated with the growth of fibrillar structures and specially with the heterogeneities of the gel network which was assumed to be chiral fibrillar junction zones. The characteristic SNO* dichroic absorptions (for C ≈ 2.0 × 10^-2 M) are λ_max = 250nm, |Δε| ≈ 6.0 (mainly a linear contribution) and λ_max = 450 nm, Δε = +0.45 (mainly a circular contribution). These preliminary observations provide strong evidence for a helical stacking of the steroid molecules within the fibres of the gel samples. The optical dichroic absorption can be a valuable technique to monitor the orientational order of the microdomains crossed by the light beam.     

Mechanistic insight into circularly polarized photoluminescence from a chiral-nematic film

Circularly polarized photoluminescence (CPPL) was characterized for rod-like molecules of Exalite 428 helically arranged in a chiral-nematic liquid crystalline film. With an unpolarized excitation at 370nm, CPPL intensities measured at 428nm, and a selective reflection wavelength ranging from 7.2 to 72.6mum, the observed dissymmetry factor, g, was found to be in excellent agreement with theoretical prediction, without resorting to adjustable parameters. As a result, new insight into liquid crystal-induced CPPL has emerged. Specifically, it was found that circular dichroism and circular polarization of the excitation beam prior to inducing linearly polarized photoluminescence (LPPL) at quasi-nematic layers play an insignificant role. The relatively large g value in the spectral region far removed from the selective reflection band was attributed to the circular polarization of LPPL emanating from all quasi-nematic layers comprising the chiral-nematic film. In the absence of a fluorescent dye, the propagation of unpolarized light through the chiral-nematic film under otherwise identical conditions results in no circular polarization. The present study has provided a foundation for generating circularly polarized light by way of photo-excitation with unpolarized light of a chiral-nematic film containing a fluorescent dye. e e     

The peculiarities of the spectral luminescence properties of N-anthryl-substituted pyridinium cations

A structureless fluorescence band λ^max_f ≈ 530 nm) in liquid solution and a fluorescence band with vibrational structure (λ = 376–480 nm) in rigid media (ethanol, 77 K and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), 296 K) were observed for N-anthryl-substituted pyridinium cations. In liquid solution the long-wave fluorescence is attributed to the biradical structure resulting from the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from anthracene to the pyridinium ring, and the long-wave, low intensity absorption (and fluorescence excitation) band (λ=465 nm) is attributed to this interfragment PET which is weakly allowed by the torsional vibrations. In rigid media the PET is strongly forbidden (in the strict orthogonal pyridinium-anthracene structure) and radiative deactivation of the anthracene fragment is observed.     

Dynamics of electronic polarization in molecular crystals

Dynamics of electronic polarization in the vicinity of charge carriers in molecular crystals is for the first time investigated here in connection with the carrier transport and intramolecular vibronic polarization. According to standard picture it has been assumed that the electronic polarization relaxation time is extremely short, as estimated from the relation τ_c = τ_d1 ≈ h/E_exc, where E_exc is the energy of the first single exciton state. In the case of anthracene (Ac) crystals, the value of τ_e is about 2 × 10⁻¹⁶ s, i.e. by several orders of magnitude shorter than a typical hopping (residence) time of charge carriers τ_h = 10⁻¹⁴ -10⁻¹³ s. It is argued that typical time of full reconstruction of the electronic polarization after individual carrier hops equals, in the slow carrier regime, approximately to t_d2 ≈ h/ΔE_exc is the width of the lowest singlet-exciton band. In Ac, this means t_d2 ≈ 0.73 × 10⁻¹⁴ s. Physical implications of this relatively high value of t_d2 in connection with carrier transport and molecular (vibronic) polarization are discussed.     

Photochemistry of dicyanopyridines

The photochemistry of a variety of dicyanopyridines (2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5-dicyanopyridine) in solution at room temperature was investigated. Pulsed UV (308 nm) laser irradiation in deoxygenated acetonitrile yields the triplet state with lifetimes between 4 and 10 μs and absorption bands in the 400 and 320 nm regions. In the presence of added HCl an air-insensitive transient (τ ≈ 10–12 μs, λ_max ≈ 360–380 nm) was observed, suggesting the formation of a protonated excited state.

Irradiation in the presence of amines resulted in the production of the pyridyl radical anion (τ ≈ 40–80 μs, air sensitive, λ_max ≈ 360–380 nm) formed by electron transfer from the amine to the pyridine triplet excited state. Stern-Volmer analysis gave electron transfer rate constants in the range (1–8) × 10⁻⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹.

In methanol solvent, irradiation yielded an air-insensitive transient assigned as the neutral pyridyl radical (τ ≈ 30–200 μs, λ_max ≈ 370–385 nm). The formation of these transients is discussed in the context of previous photochemical electron spin resonance and product studies.     

HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells: an experimental model for photosensitization by endogenous porphyrins

Endogenous protoporphyurin IX (PpIX) synthesis after δ-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) administration occurs in cancer cells in vivo; PpIX, which has a short half-life, may thus constitute a good alternative to haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (or Photofrin). This study assesses the ability of the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 to synthesize PpIX in vitro from exogenous ALA, and compares ALA-induced toxicity and phototoxicity with the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effects of HPD on this cell line.

ALA induced a dose-dependent dark toxicity, with 79% and 66% cell survival for 50 and 100 μg ml⁻¹ ALA respectively after 3 h incubation; the same treatment, followed by laser irradiation (λ = 632 nm, 25 J cm⁻²), induced a dose-dependent phototoxicity, with 54% and 19% cell survival 24 h after PDT. Whatever the incubation time with ALA, a 3 h delay before light exposure was found to be optimal to reach a maximum phototoxicity.

HPD induced a slight dose-dependent toxicity in HepG2 cells and a dose- and time-dependent phototoxicity ten times greater than that of ALA-PpIX PDT. After 3 h incubation of 2.5 and 5 μg ml⁻¹ HPD, followed by laser irradiation (λ = 632 nm, 25 J cm⁻²), cell survival was 59% and 24% respectively at 24 h.

Photoproducts induced by light irradiation of porphyrins absorb light in the red spectral region at longer wavelengths than the original porphyrins. The possible enhancement of PDT effects after HepG2 cell incubation with ALA or HPD was investigated by irradiating cells successively with red light (λ = 632 nm) and light (λ = 650 nm). The total fluence was kept constant at 25 J cm⁻². For both HPD and ALA-PpIX PDT, phototoxicity was lower when cells were irradiated for increased periods with λ = 650 nm light than with λ = 632 nm light alone. This suggests that any photoproducts involved either have a short life or are poorly photoreactive.

Not all cell lines can synthesize PpIX after ALA incubation. HepG2 cells, which can synthesize enzymes and precursors of endogenous porphyrin synthesis, represent a good in vitro model for experiments using ALA-PpIX PDT. In addition, ALA-PpIX PDT may represent a new, specific treatment for hepatocarcinomas.     

Fluorescence properties of domperidone and its determination in pharmaceutical preparations

The native fluorescence characteristics of domperidone in various solvents and at different pH values are reported. The fluorophore is the benzo-1,3-diazolin-2-one group which is also present in the analogous benperidol, droperidol and pimozide molecules from which domperidone is derived; the substituent may therefore be considered as a relatively strong fluorophore; its excitation and emission maxima are little influenced by pH variation. Domperidone can be determined in pharmaceutical preparations by its native fluorescence in ethanol (λ_ex = 283 nm ;λ_em = 324 nm) and in 0.01 M HCl (λ_ex = 284 nm;λ_em = 329 mn) with a detection limit of 0.01 μg ml^-1.     

Synthesis and Opto-Electronic Properties of Cholesteric Cellulose Esters

Cholesteric materials display unique optical properties which can be exploited in opto-electronic applications such as light emitting diodes. The key feature is the position of the wavelength of the emitted light relative to the one of the selective reflection band. We have synthesized a set of cellulose derivatives displaying the cholesteric phase with the aim to investigate the correlation between chemical structure and properties. Phase transition temperatures, the chain packing, the wavelength of selective reflection but also absorption and fluorescence spectra were investigated as a function of the degree of substitution (DS), the nature of lateral substituents, the composition of doped systems and blends of different cellulose derivatives. Investigated were furthermore the degree of circular polarization of the emitted light for guest–host systems and for cellulose systems with chromophores linked by covalent bonds to the cellulose backbone as well as their performance in light emitting diodes. The conclusion is that the optical properties can be accounted for on the basis of the model of a one-dimensional photonic crystal. The limiting factor with respect to opto-electronic applications is the poor control of the uniformity of the helix formation and orientation.     

Synthesis, structure, and fluorescence of two cadmium(II)-citrate coordination polymers with different coordination architectures

Two novel Cd(II)-citrate complexes were obtained with different metal/ligand ratios through hydrothermal method. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Although their topological structures are both 2-D layer network assemblies, both central Cd(II) ions and Hcit³⁻ ligands display completely different coordination modes. In polymeric complex 1, Hcit³⁻ serves as a μ₁₀-bridged and central Cd(II) ions adopt 6- and 8-coordinated configurations. In contrast, a μ₉-bridged and 6- and 7-coordinated environments between Cd(II) and Hcit³⁻ are established in the polymeric complex 2. Two Complexes remain stable up to approximately 300 °C. The complex 1 exhibits strong fluorescent emission band at 450 nm (λ=346 nm) as well as complex 2 exhibits strong fluorescent emission band at 430 (λ=346 nm).     

Spectral interferences in the determination of traces of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in “pure” rare earth matrices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: Part VII — Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium and Thulium

This article is the seventh part of a series of papers discussing the spectral interferences of rare earth elements (REEs) in ICP-AES. Radial viewing 27.12 MHz inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used in the determination of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in Tb₂O₃, Dy₂O₃, Ho₂O₃ and Tm₂O₃ as “pure” rare earth matrices. The quantification of the interferences in terms of Q-values for line interference Q_I(_a) and wing background interference Q_W(Δλ_a) were used in accordance with Boumans and Vrakking [Spectrochim. Acta Part B 43 (1988) 69]. The “best” analysis lines from point of view of spectral interferences were selected. The true detection limits by using the “best” analysis lines were calculated.     

Properties of the blue-shifted emission of hematoporphyrin and related derivatives in aqueous solution

A blue-shift of the emission spectrum of hematoporphyrin and of its derivatives used in tumor phototherapy is shown to occur in water solutions. After 48 h incubation at 37°C, this emission becomes predominant, particularly in derivatives with a high degree of aggregation, and is characterized by a decay time of ≈2.6 ns. The appearance of this band, which is peaked at 580 nm, can be interpreted on the basis of a binding mechanism of monomers to stable aggregates.     

Theoretical investigation of the effects of intramolecular electron-spin relaxation on Stern-Gerlach deflections

The exact solution of a random walk model for electron spin flips in a magnetic field is presented and applied to the Stern-Gerlach (SG) deflection of a spin-1/2 molecule. It is found that when the intramolecular spin-relaxation time τ is much longer than t, the residence time of the molecule in the magnetic gradient, the SG deflection spectrum is unaffected, whereas when τ is much shorter than t, the two-line splitting pattern collapses to that of a single line, neither shifted nor broadened with respect to the line profile at zero field gradient. SG band profiles at intermediate values of λ = τ/t are especially interesting. In the range 2.0> λ > 0.5, the M_s = ± 1/2 SG bands are not shifted from their peak position at large λ, however they are strongly broadened asymmetrically toward zero deflection. This broadening assumes the nature of a broad peak at λ ≈ 0.5, which then narrows substantially and rapidly shifts to the position of zero deflection for λ between 0.3 and 0.01. Examples are given of the SG spectra of molecules exhibiting extreme values of λ.     

The triple fluorescence of benzanilide and the dielectric medium modulation of its competitive excitation

The fluorescence of the benzanilide molecule at 298 K is inferred to consist of three independent electronic transitions associated with the single ground-state molecular species. F₁ (λ_max340 nm), the normal fluorescence is observed weakly and is ascribed to an n,π*,-π,π* mixed state. F′₂ is ascribed to the proton-transfer imidol tautomer fluorescence (previously reported) with unresolved λ_max (inferred at ≈460 nm). F″₂ is ascribed to a charge-transfer state fluorescence to the ground state, and occurs as a resolved CT transition in tetrahydrofuran at λ_max 520 nm. Comparison of the spectra of N-methylbenzanilide exhibiting only F₁ and F″₂ (CT) permitted the analysis of the benzanilide spectra.     

Förster energy transfer from poly(arylene–ethynylene)s to an erbium–porphyrin complex

We study the infrared emission at 1.54 μm of an organolanthanide complex, Er(III)-tetraphenylporphyrin [Er(TPP)acac], both as a result of direct optical excitation and via energy transfer from host π-conjugate polymers of type poly(arylene–ethynylene) [PAE]. In the first case, the emission of the neat complex is characterized in inert transparent materials and a value of the quantum yield at 1.54 μm φ_IR=4×10⁻⁴ is measured. Then, fluorescence resonance transfer is investigated in blends of Er(TPP)acac with PAEs by monitoring the quenching of the polymer fluorescence along with the enhancement of both the visible emission of the ligand and the near-infrared band of Er³⁺. These different procedures allow a detailed analysis of the transfer efficiency within a specific implementation of the Förster model for polymeric donors. The experimental values of the critical radius R₀, ranging from 1.3 to 2.5 nm for the different blends, are in good agreement with theory for a wide interval of the physical and spectroscopic parameters. This suggests that other mechanisms for excitation transfer do not play a significant role in these materials.     

Circular differential scattering of light in films of chiral polyfluorene

Circular differential transmission in thick films (1.1 mum) of poly{9,9-bis[(3S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl]-2,7-fluorene} is investigated. The vitrified liquid crystalline film obtained after annealing shows high circular differential transmission of light in the wavelength range where the polyfluorene does not absorb (lambda > 450 nm). Using a specifically designed chiroptical setup, we show that circular selective reflection of light in which the circular polarization of the light is retained after reflection, a process which is characteristic for cholesteric liquid crystalline films, makes a negligible contribution to the differential transmission. Using an integrating sphere, we show that circular differential scattering can account for the observed circular differential transmission for lambda > 450 nm.     

一种新型联萘基旋光共轭聚合物的圆二色谱和圆偏振荧光光谱

众所周知 ,聚合物的光电性质依赖于聚合物链的构象和 (或 )组成 ,通过在聚合物上引入手性单元 ,采用圆二色谱 ( CD)和圆偏振荧光光谱 ( CPL)等方法可表征聚合物结构 [1] .近年来 ,由于圆偏振光可用作光数据存储和液晶显示器背景光 [2 ] ,人们开始注重共轭聚合物圆偏振光材料的研究 .共轭聚合物的光致和电致圆偏振光的现象由一种带手性侧链的聚噻吩[3 ] 和一种带手性侧链的聚 (对苯撑乙烯 ) [4 ]产生 ,但它们的圆偏振荧光度 (用不对称因子 glum=2 ( IL-IR) / ( IL+IR)表示 ,IL 和 IR 分别指左圆偏振光强度和右圆偏振光强度 )相对较低 …     

Dramatic persistence (minutes) of the triplet excited state and efficient singlet oxygen generation for C60 incorporated in Y zeolite and MCM-41 silicate

The triplet excited state of C₆₀ (λ_max=780 nm) lives minutes and can be monitored by conventional spectrophotometers when this fullerene is incorporated inside LiY, as opposed to C₆₀@HY and C₆₀@MCM-41 wherein C₆₀ triplet lives in the submillisecond time scale. C₆₀ adsorbed in LiY or MCM-41 efficiently generates ¹O₂ that was detected by its characteristic NIR emission (λ_em=1270 nm).     

Design, synthesis, and characterization of a calcium-sensitive near infrared dye

Intracellular calcium concentration in biological cells varies from 0.1 to 10 μM depending upon cell signaling and disease states. A direct estimate of calcium concentration in cell tissues within this range is possible with a novel calcium-selective reagent 15C5-774. The molecule of 15C5-774 consists of a near-infrared (NIR) chromophore (λ_max=774 nm) and a metal complexing moiety of benzo-15-crown-5. The reagent shows a strong calcium binding affinity in a 1:1 ratio and metal selectivity in the order Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>Sr²⁺≈K⁺≈Na⁺>Zn²⁺>Li⁺. The high sensitivity is achieved by conducting absorption measurements in the NIR region where background interference from the biological matrix is low.     

Determination of the pesticide morestan by means of a single-use phosphorimetric sensor

A new test procedure to determine the pesticide morestan based on solid phase room temperature phosphorescence using a disposable optical sensor is proposed. The device consists of a disposable polyester sheet (5 cm×1 cm) with a circular micro zone (6 mm in diameter and 25 μm in thickness), formed by polyvinylchloride and tributylphosphate as a plasticizer, on its surface. When the sensor was introduced for 2 h into a solution containing morestan, the pesticide was fixed in the sensing zone and its phosphorescence emission could be directly measured at λ_em=520 and λ_exc=363 nm. Construction and use of the sensor, and characterization of the fixation parameters have been studied. The applicable morestan concentration range was 1.0–200.0 ng ml⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.28 ng ml⁻¹ and a precision (as relative standard deviation) of 2.9%. The method was applied to the determination of the pesticide in different water samples (natural, tap, sea, river and waste water) with recovery percentages ranging between 82.2 and 105.7%. A study of the interference produced by other pesticides and various organic and inorganic species frequently present in these waters showed the selectivity of the method. The method was validated chemometrically.