Fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields of rhodamine derivatives: new insights from theory and experiment.
Although lifetimes and quantum yields of widely used fluorophores are often largely characterized, a systematic approach providing a rationale of their photophysical behavior on a quantitative basis is still a challenging goal. Here we combine methods rooted in the time-dependent density functional theory and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to accurately determine and analyze fluorescence signatures (lifetime, quantum yield, and band peaks) of several commonly used rhodamine and pyronin dyes. We show that the radiative lifetime of rhodamines can be correlated to the charge transfer from the phenyl toward the xanthene moiety occurring upon the S(0) ← S(1) de-excitation, and to the xanthene/phenyl relative orientation assumed in the S(1) minimum structure, which in turn is variable upon the amino and the phenyl substituents. These findings encourage the synergy of experiment and theory as unique tool to design finely tuned fluorescent probes, such those conceived for modern optical sensors.
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', Complesso Universitario di M.S.Angelo, via Cintia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
Marika
M
Savarese
Anna
A
Aliberti
Ilaria
I
De Santo
Edmondo
E
Battista
Filippo
F
Causa
Paolo A
PA
Netti
Nadia
N
Rega
D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines