Hyper-efficient quenching of a conjugated polyelectrolyte by dye-doped silica nanoparticles: better quenching in the nonaggregated state

Langmuir. 2010 Feb 2;26(3):1528-32. doi: 10.1021/la903970t.

Abstract

We investigated the quenching properties of poly(phenylene ethynylene) with anionic alkoxyl sulfonate side groups, PPE-SO3, by tris(2,2-bipyridyl)dichlororuthenium(II) (Rubpy)-doped silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) in water, methanol, and the surfactant Triton X-100 aqueous solution. SiNPs demonstrated hyper-efficient quenching characterized by the Stern-Volmer constants in the range of 10(9)-10(10) M(-1), which is about 100-10,000 times more efficient compared to the Rubpy dye. More importantly, quenching by SiNPs was found to be more efficient when the polymer existed as a nonaggregated state, such as in methanol solution and in the surfactant solution. Investigations on confocal fluorescence images and time-resolved fluorescence decays were carried out to study the quenching mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Electrolytes / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Electrolytes
  • Polymers
  • Solvents
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Silicon Dioxide