Discrete Intensity Jumps and Intramolecular Electronic Energy Transfer in the Spectroscopy of Single Conjugated Polymer Molecules

TitleDiscrete Intensity Jumps and Intramolecular Electronic Energy Transfer in the Spectroscopy of Single Conjugated Polymer Molecules
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1997
Authors{Vanden Bout}, DA, Yip, W-T, Hu, D, Fu, D-K, Swager, TM, Barbara, PF
JournalScience
Volume277
Pagination1074–1077
Date Publishedaug
ISSN00368075
Keywordsconjugated polymer fluorescence energy transfer, photobleaching kinetics conjugated polymer fluorescence
Abstract

Single-mol. fluorescence spectroscopy of a multichromophoric conjugated polymer (mol. wt. ∼ 20,000) revealed surprising single-step photobleaching kinetics and acute jumps in fluorescence intensity. These jumps were shown not to result from spectral diffusion and were attributed to fluctuations in the quantum yield of emission for the mols. The data indicate efficient intramol. electronic energy transfer along the polymer chain to a localized fluorescence-quenching polymer defect. The defects are created by reversible photochem. of the polymer. These findings have implications for the use of conjugated polymers in light-emitting diode displays and sensors. [on SciFinder(R)]

URLhttp://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.277.5329.1074
DOI10.1126/science.277.5329.1074