Open AccessOrganic J-Aggregate Nanodots with Enhanced Light Absorption and Near-Unity Fluorescence Quantum Yield
Author(s) -
Hubert Piwoński,
Shuho Nozue,
Hiroyuki Fujita,
Tsuyoshi Michinobu,
Satoshi Habuchi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.853
H-Index - 488
eISSN - 1530-6992
pISSN - 1530-6984
DOI - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04928
Subject(s) - quantum yield , fluorescence , photoluminescence , molar absorptivity , photochemistry , materials science , absorption (acoustics) , nanoparticle , quantum dot , acceptor , carbazole , nanodot , nanotechnology , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , optoelectronics , optics , physics , organic chemistry , condensed matter physics , composite material
Development of biocompatible fluorophores with small size, bright fluorescence, and narrow spectrum translate directly into major advances in fluorescence imaging and related techniques. Here, we discover that a small donor-acceptor-donor-type organic molecule consisting of a carbazole (Cz) donor and benzothiazole (BT) acceptor (CzBTCz) assembles into quasi-crystalline J-aggregates upon a formation of ultrasmall nanoparticles. The 3.5 nm CzBTCz Jdots show a narrow absorption spectrum (fwhm = 27 nm), near-unity fluorescence quantum yield (ϕ fl = 0.95), and enhanced peak molar extinction coefficient. The superior spectroscopic characteristics of the CzBTCz Jdots result in two orders of magnitude brighter photoluminescence of the Jdots compared with semiconductor quantum dots, which enables continuous single-Jdots imaging over a 1 h period. Comparison with structurally similar CzBT nanoparticles demonstrates a critical role played by the shape of CzBTCz on the formation of the Jdots. Our findings open an avenue for the development of a new class of fluorescent nanoparticles based on J-aggregates.