Polymer microenvironmental effects on the photophysics of cinchonine dication

Photophysical properties of cinchonine dication (C⁺⁺) have been studied in protic and aprotic polymers by monitoring steady state and time resolved measurements. It is found to be sensitive towards the microenvironment of polymers. Edge excitation red shifted emission (EERS) is observed in all polymeric matrices. However, the magnitude of EERS is relatively high in protic as compared to aprotic polymer. Isobestic point in excitation spectra and three decay components in time resolved measurements indicate more than two trapped chemical species in the heterogeneous environment of the polymer. Solute-polymer interactions are found to produce the third decay channel, unlike in solution phase and may be useful to understand the polymer microenvironment.