Single-molecule orientations in dyed salt crystals

Kristin L. Wustholz, Bart Kahr, Philip J. Reid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present single-molecule confocal microscopy studies of orientational distributions for luminophores isolated in potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) crystals. The incorporation of dye molecules that bear no size or shape similarity to the host ions is observed, demonstrating that single-molecule studies on mixed crystals need not be restricted to isomorphous host/guest pairs. Violamine R is oriented and overgrown by the fast vicinal slopes of growth hillocks within the symmetry-related {010} growth sectors and DCM deposits in the {111̄} growth sectors of KAP. Both mixed crystals exhibit modest absorption dichroism relative to basic pyranine-doped K 2SO 4. The latter was studied to ensure that a range of orientations was sampled in our experiments. Average orientations determined at the single-molecule level were in close agreement to ensemble-averaged measurements for all three systems, and the chromophore orientational distributions were broader than anticipated, indicating that the crystals incorporate guest molecules in a range of orientations outside the measured ensemble average.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16357-16362
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume109
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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