Spectral properties of bacteriochlorophyll c in nematic liquid crystal. Part 1. Monomeric forms of dye

Abstract

The spectroscopic features of bacteriochlorophyll c and bacteriopheophytin c in a nematic liquid crystal matrix have been investigated. Absorption, circular dichroism, fluorescence and time resolved delayed luminescence spectra have been measured. The pigment is introduced to the liquid crystal from a dry and from a hydrated chloroform solution. In both cases the pigment is in the monomeric form. Hydration of the solvent and the presence or absence of the central Mg atom affect the interaction of the pigment molecules with the liquid crystal matrix, changing the fluorescence anisotropy. A model for the bacteriochlorophyll c orientation in the liquid crystal is proposed and the averaged angles between the transition moments and the liquid crystal orientation axis are determined. A slow process (in the microsecond range) of radiative deactivation of energy absorbed by the pigments is observed. This delayed emission could be due to pigment ionization and delayed charge recombination and/or thermal activation from the triplet to the excited singlet state.