Electrochromism of fluorescent probes

Abstract

Electrochromism analyses of anthracene, 9,10-dimethylanthracene 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and perylene in polyethylene matrices are given. Previous studies of the second rank order parameters of some of these molecules in a lyotropic nematic phase are included. A simple model, which on the basis of the electrochromism results, explains the observed discrepancy between order parameters in ground and excited states is presented. It is found that the changes in anisotropic polarizability upon excitation are contributing significantly to the reorientation of an excited molecule.