Triplet quantum yields in light-scattering powder samples measured by laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy (LIOAS)

In recent years, different methods and techniques have been applied to study the primary photophysical processes occurring in dye-loaded light-scattering powdered samples. In spite of this, there are still no reliable methods for the determination of triplet quantum yields for this kind of systems. Laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy (LIOAS) has been extensively used for the determination of triplet quantum yields of dyes in solution. In a previous work, LIOAS was applied to the measurement of absolute emission quantum yields of highly fluorescent powdered samples. Excellent agreement was found with values obtained from reflectance data. In this work, we apply the same technique for the determination of triplet quantum yields of Rose Bengal and Erythrosine B adsorbed on microcrystalline cellulose. In contrast to water and other solvents, internal conversion cannot be neglected in the cellulose environment. The triplet quantum yield for both dyes is around 0.55 and does not change with dye concentration.