Fluorescence of Single Molecules in Polymer Films: Sensitivity of Blinking to Local Environment

• DOI: 10.1021/jp072864d
• Publication Date: 2007-05-26T12:00:59Z
• Authors: John N. Clifford; Toby D. M. Bell; Philip Tinnefeld; Mike Heilemann; Sergey M. Melnikov; Jun-ichi Hotta; Michel Sliwa; Peter Dedecker; Markus Sauer; Johan Hofkens; Edwin K. L. Yeow
• Keywords: Oxidizing agent; Millisecond

The single-molecule fluorescence blinking behavior of the organic dye Atto647N in various polymer matrixes such as Zeonex, PVK, and PVA well aqueous media was investigated. Fluorescence with off-times millisecond to second time range is assigned radical ions formed by photoinduced electron transfer reactions from or environment. In Zeonex measured off-time distributions show power law dependence, whereas, PVA, no dependence observed. Rather, this polymer, can be best fitted monoexponential stretched exponential functions. Furthermore, treatment samples mild heating low pressure greatly reduces frequency events. We tentatively ascribe removal water pockets within film itself. Measurements immobilized presence methylviologen, a strongly oxidizing agent, reveal simple on- distributions. Thus, our data suggest that single molecules sensitive their immediate environment and, moreover, do not inherently uniquely obey law.