Luminescence lifetime distributions analysis in heterogeneous systems by the use of Excel's Solver

A detailed study of the luminescence decay curves of pyrene included within p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene cavities and benzophenone into silicalite channels is reported. A new methodology for a lifetime distribution analysis of the decay curve of probes onto heterogeneous surfaces is presented, which allows for asymmetric distributions and uses Voigt profiles (Gaussian and Lorentzian mixture) instead of pure Gaussian or Lorentzian distributions. Our approach uses a very simple and widely available tool for fitting, the Microsoft Excel Solver. In the case of the pyrene/tert-butylcalix[4]arene sample, the room temperature luminescence detected in the microsecond time scale was not only the phosphorescence of pyrene but also monomer delayed fluorescence, crystal phosphorescence, and excimer delayed fluorescence. In the benzophenone/silicalite case, three emissive forms of benzophenone could be assigned, one of benzophenone included into the silicalite circular zigzag channels, another for emplacement into the elliptical straight channels and finally when benzophenone is placed at the crossing points of those silicalite channels, where smaller spatial restrictions for benzophenone exist.