Two mechanisms for fluorescence intermittency of single violamine R molecules

• DOI: 10.1039/c0cp01716g
• Publication Date: 2011-01-07T14:00:33Z
• Authors: Erin A. Riley; Chris Bingham; Eric D. Bott; Bart Kahr; Philip J. Reid
• Keywords: Luminophore; Intermittency; Incandescence

The environment and temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) intermittency or "blinking" demonstrated by single violamine R (VR) molecules is investigated in two environments: poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) crystals of potassium acid phthalate (KAP). In addition, temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 85 are studied, spanning the glass-transition temperature PVOH (T(g) = 72 °C). PL exhibited VR analyzed using probability histograms emissive non-emissive periods. both KAP, these best fit a power law, consistent with kinetics for dark state production decay being dispersed as observed previous studies. However, systems have different dependences, signifying blinking mechanisms VR. PVOH, on- off-event do not vary temperature, electron transfer via tunneling between polymer. KAP same dependent, show that slows down at higher temperatures. This result inconsistent an electron-transfer process responsible blinking. Instead, non-adiabatic proton-transfer presented model this dependence. summary, results here demonstrate given luminophore, photochemical processes can change environment.