Measuring BODIPY Fluorescence with UV Vis Spectroscopy
BODIPY is an organic fluorophore with impressive fluorescent quantum yield, small stokes shift and impressive chemical and photostability. These are often used in biological labelling and as an organic fluorescent dye.
Absorbance and fluorescence spectra for the molecular dye BODIPY-Br (a bromine-substituted boron dipyrromethene derivative) are shown below. These spectra of BODIPY fluorescence were measured using the Ossila USB Spectrometer. Here, we see that optical spectroscopy can be incredibly useful tool for identify and explain the behaviour and properties of small molecules at varying concentrations.
To fabricate the samples, we dissolved BODIPY-Br at varying concentrations in a solution of polystyrene (a transparent polymer) in the solvent toluene. We then coated this onto quartz-coated glass substrates using an Ossila Spin Coater to form 180 nm thin films.
As expected, the absorbance of the films increases as the relative dye concentration is increased. This is because the more absorbent material in the film, the more light is absorbed.
Fluorescence Spectra
Perhaps unexpectedly, the peak fluorescence intensity of the films does not increase linearly with dye concentration. In fact, the 50% film has the lowest peak intensity, while the 10% film has the greatest.
This reduction in fluorescence intensity at higher concentrations is due to intermolecular interactions caused by the aggregation of the BODIPY-Br molecules. At low concentrations, the fluorescent molecules are spatially separated, and no intermolecular interactions are possible. As the relative concentration of the molecules is increased, the spacing between adjacent molecules is reduced and intermolecular interactions become significant. This reduces the total fluorescence from the sample.
Normalised Fluorescence Spectra
In addition to the reduction in the fluorescence intensity, the spectral shape also changes. The most obvious change is shown in the figure below, which shows the normalised fluorescence spectra. As the concentration of BODIPY-Br increases, the shoulder around 600 nm emerges and increases in intensity. This is also an effect of aggregation and in the case of BODIPY-Br is due to the formation of excimers.
Zooming into the main peak shows how the position of the peak redshifts with increasing concentration. This is further evidence of aggregation resulting in excimer formation.
USB Spectrometer
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