Effect of temperature on the fluorescence emission of carbazole-substituted methylcellulose in dilute aqueous solutions

Fluorescent-labeled polymers, carbazole-substituted methylcelluloses (Cz-MCs) were synthesized through a two-step reaction by firstly introducing epoxy group to carbazole, and then reacting with MC. Structure of Cz-MC was characterized by using FTIR, NMR, elemental analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy. Aggregation behavior of Cz-MCs in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by a thermotropic study performed with dynamic laser light scattering. Cz-MCs displayed concentration self-quenching properties of fluorescence spectra both in H₂O and DMSO. The temperature effect on the fluorescent emission in dilute aqueous solution was explored. The results showed that the degree of substitution of carbazole and thermal aggregation of Cz-MC contributed to the formation of network structure between the molecules, consequently leading to the enhancement or quenching in fluorescence intensity.