The
fluorescence intermittency or “blinking” of single
molecules of ATTO647N (ATTO) in the conductive matrix polyvinylcarbazole
(PVK) is described in the presence of an external applied electric
field. It is shown that due to the energy distribution of the highest
occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of PVK, which is energetically
close to the HOMO of ATTO, sporadic electron transfer occurs. As a
result, the on/off dynamics of blinking can be influenced by the electric
field. This field will, depending on the respective position and orientation
of the dye/polymer system with respect to those of the electrodes,
either enhance or suppress electron transfer from PVK to ATTO as well
as the back electron transfer from reduced ATTO to PVK. After the
charge-transfer step, the applied field will pull the hole in PVK
away from the dye, increasing the overall time the dye resides in
a dark state.