Single Molecule Spectroscopy of Poly 3-octyl-thiophene (P3OT)

We report on the spectroscopy of isolated chains of P3OT, in a highly dilute solution in the inert polymer host poly(methyl–methacrylate) (PMMA). This environment permits a detailed analysis of emission transitions in the 1.9–2.2 eV range by suppressing the formation of the lowest emitting-energy aggregated form of P3OT. Herein it is observed that the 1.9–2.2 eV band is in fact split into low (red) and high (blue) energy forms in a highly analogous situation to that found for the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV. Another focus of this work is an investigation of the interaction of singlet and triplet excitons in P3OT. The results indicate that, like in MEH-PPV, triplet excitons are highly efficient fluorescence quenchers for P3OT, strongly quenching the fluorescence of P3OT under even relatively low excitation intensities.     

Effect of an electric field on the dissociation of electron-hole pairs interacting with triplet excitons in amorphous molecular semiconductors

The photoconductivity of amorphous molecular semiconductor films increases with the simultaneous photogeneration of singlet electron-hole pairs (EHPs) and triplet excitons but decreases when singlet EHPs are replaced by triplet EHPs. As the electric field increases, the influence of the triplet excitons on the photoconductivity of the films due to the dissociation of EHPs becomes less. It is concluded that as the electric field increases, the current-carrier mobility increases and the dissociation rate of EHPs becomes comparable to the spinconversion rate of EHPs interacting with triplet excitons. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1020–1023 (June 1997)     

Intramolecular energy transfer by singlet and triplet excitons in macromolecules

Absorption, luminescence and photo-oxidation of polyvinylcarbazole (PVCa) and polyvinylbenzocarbazole (PVBCa) in weak solutions have been studied. It is found that fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra, observed at 293, 77 and 4.2 K, depend on the molecular mass M of the polymer and on the experimental conditions. Due to efficient intramolecular energy transfer the fluorescence spectrum includes the emission of excimers, emission of end groups and that of internal structural defects of a macrochain. The relative role of each emission markedly depends on M. Phosphorescence is largely determined by the annihilation effects between triplet excitations, these effects being pronounced in long macrochains. The data show the excitonic nature of the singlet and triplet excitation energy transfer in the polymers studied. The migration of one-dimensional singlet and triplet excitons strongly influences the luminescent properties of PVCa and PVBCa macromolecules, as well as their photochemical reactions. The range of singlet excitons in PVCa and PVBCa macromolecules is determined both at room temperature and at low temperatures.     

Singlet-Singlet Electronic Excitation Energy Transfer in a Bichromophore Cooled in a Supersonic Jet

The fluorescence excitation spectra and polarization of the fluorescence of a bichromophore cooled in a supersonic jet are measured. The bichromophore consists of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and 1-(5′-phenyl-1′, 3′-oxazole-2′-yl)-4-(5′-phenyl-1′,3′,4′-oxadiazole-2′-yl)-benzene (POPDP) connected by the methylene bridge -(CH₂)-. Based on the analysis of these components and theoretical calculations, it has been proven that the total intramolecular singlet-singlet transfer of the energy of electronic excitation from the energy donor PPO to the acceptor POPDP occurs in a time of 10⁻¹² sec. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 460–463, July–August, 2005.     

Mechanism for quenching of the luminescence of 9,10-anthraquinone vapor by oxygen

The fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone, 1-aminoanthraquinone, 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone, and 1,5-diaminoanthraquinone is not quenched by oxygen because the singlet-triplet energy difference in these compounds is less than the energy needed for excitation of the triplet state of oxygen to the singlet state. Luminescence of 9,10-anthraquinone is quenched because it is mainly phosphorescence, for which the singlet-triplet difference is sufficient for quenching by a mechanism involving singlet oxygen formation. The weak fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone is not quenched. The resistance of the fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone vapor to quenching by oxygen and the quenching of its phosphorescence explain the different effects of oxygen on the luminescence of α-substituted and β-substituted anthraquinones known from the literature, and indicate that their singlet excited state cannot convert triplet oxygen to singlet oxygen. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 79–4, January–February, 2008.     

Photoinduced light absorption by C60 films in the 0.08–4.0-eV spectral range

Spectra of photoinduced light absorption in C₆₀ films at high and low excitations in the temperature range between 15 and 300 K have been measured. In addition to the well-known explanation of photoinduced absorption in terms of optical transitions in the system of photogenerated singlet excitons, triplet excitons, and polarons, changes in the absorption spectrum of the fullerite ground state must be considered. We suggest taking into account the effect of crystal field in explaining the features of the photoinduced absorption spectrum. A feature similar to the inverted luminescence spectrum and ascribed to optical excitation of singlet excitons, which is partially allowed owing to intermolecular interaction, has been detected in spectrum of photoinduced absorption. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 246–256 (July 1997)     

Non-radiative annihilation of singlet excitons on triplet excitons in organic molecular crystals

The per sec propability is calculated of the non-radiative annihilation of singlet excitons on triplet excitons in organic molecular cyrstals. The influence of the non-radiative annihilation of singlet excitons on triplet excitons on the quenching of crystal fluorescence caused by the radiative annihilation of singlet excitons is studied theoretically on the basis of formulae derived.Na Slovance 2, Praha 8, Czechoslovakia.     

Long-lived excited states and photoluminescence excitation spectra in single crystals of fullerene C60

Photoluminescence, optical absorption spectra, and photoluminescence excitation spectra were measured on large (2–3 mm), very pure crystals of fullerene C₆₀ at 5 K. It is shown that the main contribution to the photoluminescence of these crystals is from singlet and triplet excitons captured on crystal defects. The concentration of these defects does not exceed 10¹⁸ cm⁻²³, and the lifetime of triplet excitons on these defects is about 3 ms. It is shown that the symmetry distortion of the C₆₀ molecules at the defects is rather large and causes the oscillator strength of the zero-phonon optical transitions to be comparable to the most intense optical transitions with the participation of intramolecular vibrations. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 734–746 (February 1998)     

Luminescence of carbazolyl-containing polymers doped with iridium chelates

White light emission is shown to be obtainable at room temperature through the mixing of poly-N-vinylcarbazole (PVC) host fluorescence with fac-tris(2-phenylpyridyl)Ir(III) [Ir(ppy)₃] and bis[2-(2′-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C^3′](acetylacetonate)iridium (III) [Btp₂Ir(acac)] dopant phosphorescence whereas at very low temperature through the superposition of poly-N-epoxypropyl-3,6-dibromocarbazole (3,6-DBrPEPC) host and Btp₂Ir(acac) dopant phosphorescence emissions. The balance between basic colors is adjusted by the variation of triplet-emitter dopant concentrations. Spin-allowed singlet-singlet energy transfer from the host to iridium chelate dopants by the Forster mechanism is the dominant process in PVC. Spin-forbidden triplet-singlet transfer by the Forster mechanism from the host to the dopant occurs at low temperatures in 3,6-DBrPEPC due to strong spin-orbit coupling induced by the heavy bromine atoms. Spin-allowed transfer from the same host’s triplet excited state to the iridium chelate occurs via electron exchange at high temperatures. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 324–330, May–June, 2008.     

New Luminescent Bioprobes Eu(lll)-phloroglucinol Derivatives and Their Spectrofluorimetric, Electrochemical Interactions with Nucleotides and DNA

Two new ligands derived from phloroglucinol 2-{[(4-methoxy benzoyl ) oxy ] } methyl benzoic acid[L1] and 2-{[(4-methyl benzoyl )oxy] methyl} benzoic acid[L2] were synthesized. The solid complex Eu(III)-L2 has been synthesised and characterized by elemental analysis ,UV and IR spectra. The reaction of Eu(III) with the two synthesized ligands has been investigated in I = 0.1 mol dm^-3 p-toluene sulfonate by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. The reaction of Eu (III)–L1 and Eu (III)–L2 binary complexes with nucleotide 5′-AMP , 5′-ADP ,5′-ATP , 5′- GMP , 5′-IMP , and 5′-CMP has been investigated using UV, fluorescence and electrochemical methods. The experimental conditions were selected such that self-association of the nucleotides and their complexes was negligibly small, that is, the monomeric complexes were studied. The interaction of the Eu(III)–L1 or L 2 solid complexes with calf-thymus DNA has been investigated by fluorescence and electrochemical methods including cyclic voltammetery(CV) ,differential pulse polarography (DPP) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) on a glassy carbon electrode. The fluorescence intensity of Eu(III)-L2 complex was enhanced with the addition of DNA. Under optimal conditions in phosphate buffer pH 7.0 at 25 °C the linear range is 3–20 μM for calf thymus DNA (CT–DNA) and the corresponding determination limit is 1.8 μM.     

Exciton luminescence of 8-azasteroid microcrystals

Luminescence of microcrystals of 2,3-methoxy-8-azagon-1,3,5(10),13-tetraene-12,17-dion of the class of molecules of biologically active steroids is detected at room temperature (293 K). It represents fast fluorescence of free and self-localized excitons and prolonged phosphorescence of triplet excitons. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 3, pp. 440–443, May–June, 1999.     

Anthracene-sensitized long-delayed rhodamine C fluorescence of the Langmuir-Blodgett films

Results of investigation into the triplet-triplet energy transfer from a vacuum-deposited anthracene film to the Langmuir-Blodgett rhodamine dye film are presented. It is demonstrated that the observed long-delayed sensitized dye fluorescence is caused by annihilation of migrating triplet excitons. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 7, pp. 60–63, July, 2008.     

Enhancement of fluorescence of porous silicon upon saturation by liquid crystal

The fluorescence of samples of porous silicon of various morphologies that are filled with a liquid crystal (LC), n-pentyl-n′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), is studied. The fluorescence spectra of the sample, along with the long-wavelength band of porous silicon with a maximum in the range 627–667 nm, exhibit a short-wavelength band of 5CB with a maximum in the range 385–410 nm. The radiative relaxation times of porous silicon and 5CB lie in the micro- and nanosecond ranges, respectively. It is found that the filling of pores with 5CB enhances the fluorescence of porous silicon by two to three times. This enhancement is caused by non-radiative energy transfer from 5CB to the porous matrix as a result of efficient interactions between LC molecules and pore walls. Using IR spectroscopy, it is shown that the formation of hydrogen bonds between cyano groups of 5CB molecules and silanol groups of pore surface is the predominant type of these interactions. A transfer mechanism is suggested according to which excited associates of 5CB molecules transfer their energy via surface channels to excitons of porous silicon, enhancing its fluorescence.     

Mechanism of quantum dot luminescence excitation within implanted SiO2:Si:C films

Results of the investigation of photoluminescence (PL) mechanisms for silicon dioxide films implanted with ions of silicon (100 keV; 7 × 10(16) cm(-2)) and carbon (50 keV; 7 × 10(15)-1.5 × 10(17) cm(-2)) are presented. The spectral, kinetic and thermal activation properties of the quantum dots (Si, C and SiC) formed by a subsequent annealing were studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy under selective synchrotron radiation excitation. Independent quantum dot PL excitation channels involving energy transfer from the SiO(2) matrix point defects and excitons were discovered. A resonant mechanism of the energy transfer from the matrix point defects (E' and ODC) is shown to provide the fastest PL decay of nanosecond order. The critical distances (6-9 nm) of energy transport between the bulk defects and nanoclusters were determined in terms of the Inokuti-Hirayama model. An exchange interaction mechanism is realized between the surface defects (E(s)'-centres) and the luminescent nanoparticles. The peculiarities of an anomalous PL temperature dependence are explained in terms of a nonradiative energy transfer from the matrix excitons. It is established that resonant transfer to the luminescence centre triplet state is realized in the case of self-trapped excitons. In contrast, the PL excitation via free excitons includes the stages of energy transfer to the singlet state, thermally activated singlet-triplet conversion and radiative recombination.     

Intersystem crossing in oligothiophenes studied by fs time-resolved spectroscopy

High triplet quantum yields of more than 90% for bithiophene and terthiophene have to be connected with very fast and effective formation of triplets after excitation. We studied these processes with fs pump–probe spectroscopy. The time behaviour of transient optical spectra within the singlet and triplet manifold was examined for bi- and terthiophene (2T and 3T) in solution. For 2T we used two-photon absorption for excitation. We found transient spectra of the excited singlet state, the triplet state and that of radical cations. The kinetics of the excited-state absorption was described by a bi-exponential function. Additionally we observed formation and recombination of radical cations. The recombination is connected with triplet formation. Both processes could be described by a time constant of 62 ps±9 ps. For 3T we found a dependence of the processes on excitation energy using one-photon absorption. The triplet quantum yield increased with higher excitation energy. The kinetics becomes bi-exponential with increasing amplitude of the short time constant of 2 ps at increasing excitation energy. The main reasons for the effective intersystem crossing (ISC) in both oligothiophenes are – besides the high spin-orbit coupling factor introduced by the sulphur atom – the almost isoenergetic positions of the S ₁ and T ₂ states, detected by PD-PES [1]. At higher photon excitation energy for 3T above the band gap an additional channel for ISC was detected. We believe that during the geometric change from the non-relaxed non-planar to the relaxed planar excited state S ₁, ultrafast intersystem crossing takes place. Received: 6 December 1999 / Published online: 2 August 2000     

Photophysics ofβ-carotene and related compounds (review)

A review of data on the photophysics of carotenoids is presented. Results of investigations of spectroscopic, temporal, and energy parameters of excited S₁ and S₂ singlet states of β-carotene and related compounds are critically examined. These states give rise to extremely high probabilities (10¹¹–10¹³ sec⁻¹) of radiationless deactivation of the electronic excitation energy in carotenoids. Results of investigations of photophysical properties of triplet states of carotenoids are considered mainly from the standpoint of quenching of singlet oxygen and triplet states of organic molecules by carotenoids. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 5–19, January–February, 1997.     

Concentration self-quenching in solid solutions of complex organic molecules under intense excitation

A theoretical study was carried out to investigate concentration self-quenching which is nonlinear in intensity in a molecular system caused by nonradiative electronic excitation energy transfer to relatively long-lived acceptors that are formed in a solution and whose function is performed by molecules that have acquired the triplet state. It is shown that at ratios of constants of radiative and nonradiative transitions typical of complex molecules at concentrations of ∼10⁻³–10⁻² mole/liter substantial (2- to 10-fold) fluorescence takes place at intensities of excitation of ∼10⁴–10³ of the intensity of saturation for a singlet subsystem. Polarization characteristics of the system are analyzed. Belarusian State University, 4, F. Skorina Ave., 220050, Minsk, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 729–733, November–December, 1997.     

Photoelectric Characteristics of Composite Carbazole Polymerfilms Containing 1,8-Naphthoylene-1′,2′-Benzimidazole

The electric conduction and photoconduction of sandwich-type poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole (PEPC) and 3,6-di-Br-poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole (3,6-di-Br-PEPC) films containing 33 wt.% of the dye 1,8-naphthoylene-1′, 2′-benzimidazole (NBI) have been investigated. It has been established that the PEPC films, as compared to the 3,6-di-Br-PEPC films, have a higher electric conduction and a lower photosensitivity and an electric field exerts a stronger quenching effect on the photoluminescence of the first-mentioned films. Analysis of the voltampere and lux-ampere characteristics and the kinetics of electric conduction of these films has shown that the space charge and recombination via dye molecules in them influence their electric conduction and photoconduction. The volume recombination of charges is radiative in character. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 5, pp. 627–631, September–October, 2005.     

Excitation of phosphorescence of pyrene implanted into a photoconductive polymer

Methods of populating the lowest excited triplet state T ₁ of pyrene implanted into polystyrene (PS) or photoconductive polymer materials polymethylphenylsilane (PMPS), poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole (PEPC), and poly-N-vinylcarbazole (PVK) are studied. Photoluminescence was excited in the first electron transition band of pyrene and the above photoconductive polymers. It is found that, at concentrations of 0.05–0.50 mol l^?1, pyrene is effective in quenching the fluorescence of PMPS, PEPC, and PVK but has only a slight effect on the photoemission efficiency of geminate electron-hole pairs. As a result, the phosphorescence of pyrene in photoconductive polymers is excited both by the intersystem crossing from the first excited singlet state (S ₁ ? T ₁) and by the capture of triplet excitons created in the recombination of charge pairs. In addition, in PEPC and PVK, the phosphorescence of pyrene is excited by recombination of a captured hole with an electron. For this reason, the ratio of the quantum yields of phosphorescence and fluorescence of pyrene in photoconductive polymers is much larger than that in PS, wherein the T ₁ state of pyrene is populated by intersystem crossing S ₁ ? T ₁ only.