Energy transfer and photodegradation of a Perylene Orange:LDS821 system in poly(methyl methacrylate)

The luminescence of Perylene Orange and LDS821 in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) following a 532 nm irradiation yielded information on photodegradation and energy transfer. The irradiation of the Perylene Orange/LDS821/PMMA films resulted in (i) a maximum in the Perylene Orange fluorescence photodegradation profile and (ii) an enhancement of the LDS821 fluorescence relative to the LDS821/PMMA films. These results are attributed to an energy transfer from the Perylene Orange to the LDS821 with an energy transfer rate constant of 5.1+/- 0.75 (2sigma) x 10(11) M(-1) s(-1) and a Förster critical radius of 65.7 A. Fluorescence half-quenching and time-resolved fluorescence measurements attributed energy transfer to the Förster energy transfer with minor contributions of radiative energy transfer.