Premium
Fluorescence Intensity Modulation in Photochromic Conjugated Polymer Systems
Author(s) -
Harbron Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201300016
Subject(s) - photochromism , fluorophore , conjugated system , fluorescence , photochemistry , chemistry , quenching (fluorescence) , förster resonance energy transfer , polymer , moiety , fluorescence in the life sciences , optics , organic chemistry , physics
The ability to modulate fluorescence intensity with a light signal enables a variety of applications based on fluorescence imaging. One approach to fluorescence photomodulation involves using a photochromic moiety that responds to a light signal in conjunction with a nearby fluorophore. We employ conjugated polymers based on poly( p ‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) as the fluorophore in photochrome‐fluorophore systems for fluorescence modulation. Advantages of using conjugated polymers for this purpose include their intrinsic energy migration processes that enable amplified fluorescence quenching as well as their processability. Here we present examples of PPV‐based photomodulation systems that employ photochromic dyes from three common photochromic families: azobenzenes, spironaphthoxazines, and diarylethenes. In all cases we observe reversible fluorescence quenching due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer to the photogenerated form of the photochrome. Examples of the photomodulation of photochromic PPV systems in organic solution, polymer films, and conjugated polymer nanoparticles are presented.