Fluorescence Quantum Yields Of Dyes Research Articles

Synthesis of Near-Infrared Fluorescent Two-Photon-Absorbing Fluorenyl Benzothiadiazole and Benzoselenadiazole Derivatives

A series of dyes 2–5 based on 5-thienyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole and 5-thienyl-2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole cores were synthesized as near-infrared-emitting two-photon-absorbing fluorophores. Fluorescence maxima wavelengths as long as 714 nm and quantum yields as high as 0.67 were realized. The fluorescence quantum yields of dyes 2–4 were nearly constant, regardless of solvent polarity. These diazoles exhibited large Stokes shifts (>110 nm) and high two-photon figure of merit. Cells incubated on a 3D scaffold with probe 4 (encapsulated in Pluronic micelles) exhibited bright fluorescence, enabling 3D two-photon fluorescence imaging to a depth of 100 μm.

Fluorescent properties of merocyanines based on 1,3-indandione

We have studied the fluorescent properties of vinylogous series of merocyanine dyes based on 1,3-indandione and heterocycles of different electron-donating powers. Using a set of solvents with polarities lying in a wide range, we have analyzed the dependence of their solvatofluorochromism on the key structural parameters—the donor heterocyclic group and the length of the polymethine chain. It has been found that the signs of solvatochromism and solvatofluorochromism of merocyanines under study coincide. However, the solvent more weakly affects the position and the shape of their fluorescence bands than in the case of absorption spectra, especially, for negatively solvatochromic derivatives of 1,3-diphenylbenzimidazole. We have found that, upon passage from polar aprotic solvents to alcohols, the fluorescence quantum yields of dyes under investigation (irrespective of the sign of their solvatochromism) decrease. We have performed quantum-chemical calculations of merocyanine molecules by the DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and TDDFT methods, including calculations taking into account the polarity of the medium by the PCM method. Based on the analysis of electronic transitions, we have explained the fluorescence quenching of indandione merocyanines in alcohol, which is unusual for carbonyl-containing intraionic dyes.

Enhancement of the fluorescence of triphenylmethane dyes caused by their interaction with nanoparticles from β-diketonate complexes

We have studied the absorption and fluorescence spectra of Malachite Green and Crystal Violet in aqueous and alcoholic-aqueous solutions in which nanoparticles from Ln(III) and Sc(III) diketonates are formed at concentrations of complexes in a solution of 5–30 μM. We have shown that, if the concentrations of the dyes in the solution are lower than 0.5 μM, dye molecules are incorporated completely into nanoparticles or are precipitated onto their surface. The fluorescence intensity of these incorporated and adsorbed Malachite Green and Crystal Violet molecules increases by several orders of magnitude compared to the solution, which takes place because of a sharp increase in the fluorescence quantum yields of these dyes and at the expense of the sensitization of their fluorescence upon energy transfer from β-diketonate complexes entering into the composition of nanoparticles. We have shown that, if there is no concentration quenching, the values of the fluorescence quantum yield of the Crystal Violet dye incorporated into nanoparticles and adsorbed on their surface vary from 0.06 to 0.13, i.e., are close to the fluorescence quantum yield of this dye in solid solutions of sucrose acetate at room temperature. The independence of the fluorescence quantum yield of Crystal Violet on the morphology of nanoparticles testifies to a high binding constant of complexes and the dye. The considerable fluorescence quantum yields of triphenylmethane dyes in nanoparticles and sensitization of their fluorescence by nanoparticle-forming complexes make it possible to determine the concentration of these dyes in aqueous solutions by the luminescent method in the range of up to 1 nM.

Photophysical properties of an on/off fluorescent pH indicator excitable with visible light based on a borondipyrromethene-linked phenol

A borondipyrromethene-derived pH indicator (available as methyl ester ( 1) and sodium salt ( 2)) for the near-neutral pH range with ultra bright fluorescence in the red spectral region has been synthesized by linking o-chlorophenol to the 3-position of a difluoroboradiazaindacene derivative. Absorption and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements have been used to study the photophysical properties of the BODIPY-based pH probe. The fluorescence lifetime (3.8 ± 0.2 ns) and the very high (nearly 1.0) fluorescence quantum yield of dye 1 are not dependent on the solvent. In aqueous solution, the water-soluble compound 2 undergoes a reversible protonation–deprotonation reaction in the near-neutral pH range with a p K a of 7.60, which is practically insensitive to low ionic strength. Fluorimetric titrations as a function of pH produce fluorescence emission enhancements at lower pH.

Luminescence Quantum Yield Determination for Molecules Adsorbed onto Solid Powdered Particles

A new methodology for the determination of the fluorescence quantum yield of dyes adsorbed onto microcrystalline cellulose is presented and applied to rhodamine 101, cresyl violet and auramine O. It is based on a previously reported method by Ruetten and Thomas (J. Phys. Chem., 1998, 102, 598-606), which is not applicable to the dyes used in the present study. It uses ground-state diffuse reflectance spectra obtained with and without filters, which prevents the luminescence of the dye from reaching the integrating sphere and the photodetector. New equations are presented here, correcting for the fluorescence emission of the dye, which depends on the detector sensitivity. Cut-on filters, which have a transmittance close to unity in the absorption region, and close to zero in the emission region, of the dye are used to obtain corrected reflectance spectra. The influence of the substrate was also taken into account. This methodology may be applied to other probes and surfaces or emissions of a different nature (i.e., phosphorescence or delayed fluorescence), and constitutes a very simple and general procedure to solve the important problem of luminescence quantum yield determination of probes adsorbed onto solid powdered surfaces.

Fluorescence quenching of viologen on xanthene dyes in dyads

Many dyads containing xanthene dyes and viologens linked with different spacers were synthesized and characterized. The fluorescence quantum yields of dyes in the dyads were measured and the quenching efficiencies were calculated by comparison with dye models and discussed with respect to structural factors.

The absolute yield of bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence in vivo.

Abstract— –The method of Weber and Teale for determining absolute fluorescence quantum yield of dyes in solution was modified for determination of the yield of bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence from chromatophores and whole cells of photosynthetic bacteria. Measured yields ranged from about 1–6 per cent. The yield depended on intensity and wavelength of the exciting light. The higher yield at higher light intensity was interpreted as due to saturation of photosynthesis. The lower yield in some strains when excited at 810 nm was attributed to preferential excitation of the reaction center pigment P800.From this study and the lifetime measurements of others, the relation τ=Q.τ0 was substantiated for the fluorescence of bacteriochlorophyll in vivo, τ being the actual lifetime, τ0 the intrinsic lifetime as estimated from the absorption band area, and Q the quantum yield of fluorescence.