Fluorescence quenching of poly(methylphenylsilane) in solution

The solution, electron-transfer fluorescence quenching of a typical aromatic polysilane[poly(methylphenylsilane)] by a series of electronic deficient aromatic monomers is described. The rate of fluorescence quenching is a function of the reduction potential of the quencher, and only very fast processes can be observed, due to the short polymer fluorescence lifetime. The measurement of quenching rate constants, which are considerably larger than diffusion control, suggests that extensive energy migration occurs in the polymer. Although the fluorescence quenching at low quencher concentrations follows Stern-Volmer kinetics, at high concentrations, contributions from static quenching are apparent. Strong fluorescence quenching can either accelerate or inhibit photodegradation, depending on the structure of the quencher. © 1992 Plenum Publishing Corporation.