Intersystem Crossing Mechanisms and Single Molecule Fluorescence: Terrylene in Anthracene Crystals

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Optics and Spectroscopy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/1.1929053· OSTI ID:20722868

Kol'chenko, M A; Nicolet, A; Orrit, M ^[1]; Kozankiewicz, B ^[1]

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1. Molecular Nano-Optics and Spins (MoNOS), Leiden Institute of Physics (LION), Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden (Netherlands)

Single molecule spectroscopy requires molecules with low triplet yields and/or short triplet lifetimes. The intersystem crossing (ISC) rate may be dramatically enhanced by the host matrix. Comparing the fluorescence intensity of single terrylene molecules in para-terphenyl, naphthalene, and anthracene crystals, we found a reduction of the saturation intensity by three orders of magnitude in the latter case. The fluorescence autocorrelation function indicates that the bottleneck state is the terrylene triplet. We propose a ping-pong mechanism between host and guest. This intermolecular ISC mechanism, which can open whenever the host triplet lies lower than the guest singlet, was overlooked in previous single molecule investigations.

• OSTI ID: 20722868
• Journal Information: Optics and Spectroscopy, Journal Name: Optics and Spectroscopy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 98; ISSN 0030-400X; ISSN OPSUA3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANTHRACENE
CRYSTALS
FLUORESCENCE
LIFETIME
MOLECULES
NAPHTHALENE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
SATURATION
SPECTROSCOPY
TRIPLETS