Electric field induced fluorescence modulation of single molecules in PMMA based on electron transfer

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 13; no. 9; pp. 11130 - 11140
• Main Authors: Chen, Ruiyun, Gao, Yan, Zhang, Guofeng, Wu, Ruixiang, Xiao, Liantuan, Jia, Suotang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06.09.2012; Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
• Subjects: Cyclobutanes - chemistry; Electric fields; Electricity; Electrodes; Electrons; external electric fields; Fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; modulation; Nanocrystals; Optics; Phenols - chemistry; polarization; Polymers; Polymethyl Methacrylate - chemistry; Quantum dots; Rotaxanes - chemistry; single-molecule fluorescence; Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods; Spectrum analysis; polarization; modulation; single-molecule fluorescence; external electric fields
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms130911130

We present a method to modulate the fluorescence of non-polar single squaraine-derived rotaxanes molecules embedded in a polar poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix under an external electric field. The electron transfer between single molecules and the electron acceptors in a PMMA matrix contributes to the diverse responses of fluorescence intensities to the electric field. The observed instantaneous and non-instantaneous electric field dependence of single-molecule fluorescence reflects the redistribution of electron acceptors in PMMA induced by electronic polarization and orientation polarization of polar polymer chains in an electric field.