Conspectus
The study of the interaction of light with systems
at high dye
concentrations implies a great challenge because several factors,
such as emission reabsorption, dye aggregation, and energy trapping,
hinder rationalization and interpretation of the involved photophysical
processes. Space constraints induce dye interaction even in the absence
of ground state stabilization of dimers and oligomers. At distances
on the order of 1 nm, statistical energy traps are usually observed.
At longer distances, excited state energy transfer takes place. Most
of these factors do not result in ground state spectroscopic changes.
Rather, fluorescence phenomena such as inner filter effects, concentration-dependent
Stokes’ shifts, and changes in quantum yields and decay times
are evidenced.
Photophysical studies are commonly carried out
at high dilution,
to minimize dye–dye interactions and emission reabsorption,
and in the absence of light scattering. Under these conditions, the
physical description of the system becomes rather simple. Fluorescence
and triplet quantum yields become molecular properties and can be
easily related to ratios of rate constants. However, many systems
containing dyes able to fulfill specific functions, whether man-made
or biological, are far from being dilute and scattering-free. The
photosynthetic apparatus is a paradigmatic example. It is clear that
isolation of components allows gathering relevant information about
complex systems. However, knowledge of the photophysical behavior
in the unaltered environment is essential in most cases.
Complexity
generally increases when light scattering is present.
Despite that, our experience shows that light scattering, when correctly
handled, may even simplify the task of unraveling molecular parameters.
We show that methods and models aiming at the determination and interpretation
of fluorescence and triplet quantum yields as well as energy transfer
efficiencies can be developed on the basis of simple light-scattering
theories.
Photophysical studies were extended to thin films
and layer-by-layer
assemblies. Procedures are presented for the evaluation of fluorescence
reabsorption in concentrated fluid solutions up to the molar level,
which are being applied to ionic liquids, in which the emitting species
are the bulk ions. Fluorescence reabsorption models proved to be useful
in the interpretation of the photophysics of living organisms such
as plant leaves and fruits. These new tools allowed the assessment
of chlorophyll fluorescence at the chloroplast, leaf and canopy levels,
with implications in remote sensing and the development of nondestructive
optical methods.