Nonlinear optical chromophores as nanoscale emitters for single-molecule spectroscopy.
Fluorescence imaging of single molecules at room temperature is a powerful technique for studying complex condensed phase systems and revealing structure and dynamics hidden by ensemble measurements. Successful single-molecule spectroscopic experiments rely upon strong emitters that can be detected at the level of individual copies above the relevant background signals. This Account discusses a class of nonlinear optical chromophores that not only are well-suited for single-molecule imaging but also offer additional beneficial properties such as a significant ground-state dipole moment, moderate hyperpolarizability, and sensitivity to local environment. An overview of the photophysical properties of several members of this class of molecules as well as a mechanism to help understand the environmental sensitivity is presented. Some preliminary applications of the chromophores as single-molecule reporters in cellular and polymer systems are discussed, along with detection of the emitters by two-photon fluorescence.
Willets
Katherine A
KA
Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, and Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
Nishimura
Stefanie Y
SY
Schuck
P James
PJ
Twieg
Robert J
RJ
Moerner
W E
WE
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D038761:Photobleaching; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005663:Furans; D009570:Nitriles