Solvent-induced modulation of collective photophysical processes in fluorescent silica nanoparticles

In this paper we show how it is possible to control the nature and the efficiency of collective photophysical processes in a network composed of two different fluorescent units organized on the surface of silica nanoparticles. Such a structure is obtained by covering nanoparticles with a layer of dansyl moieties (Dns) and by partially protonating them in solution. The two fluorophores Dns and Dns.H(+) have very different photophysical properties and can be selectively excited and detected. The interaction between the two units Dns and Dns.H(+) has been first investigated in a reference compound obtained by derivatizing 1,6-hexanediamine with two dansyl units. The photophysical characterization of this compound (absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, quantum yield, and lifetime) showed that the two moieties can be involved both in energy and electron-transfer processes. Dansylated nanoparticles were prepared by modifying preformed silica nanoparticles with dansylated (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane. Photophysical studies indicated that protonation has a dramatic effect on the fluorescence of the nanoparticles, leading to the quenching of both the protonated units and the surrounding nonprotonated ones. This amplified response to protonation, due to charge-transfer interactions, is solvent-dependent and is less efficient in pure chloroform with respect to acetonitrile/chloroform (5/1 v/v) mixtures. The reduced efficiency of the electron-transfer processes responsible for the quenching makes energy transfer competitive to such an extent that in pure chloroform excitation energy migration takes place from Dns.H(+) to Dns with great efficiency.