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Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Published on: July 21, 2018

Single-Molecule Phosphorescence and Intersystem Crossing in a Coupled Exciton Plasmon System.

Abhishek Grewal¹, Hiroshi Imada², Kuniyuki Miwa³

¹Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, Stuttgart 70569, Germany.

|June 25, 2025

Summary

Researchers achieved molecular-scale phosphorescence imaging using scanning tunneling microscopy. This breakthrough enables detailed study of triplet excitation pathways and offers new avenues for advanced light-emitting diodes.

Keywords:

STM-induced luminescence intersystem crossing phosphorescence plasmonics scanning tunneling microscopy tip-enhanced fluorescence

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Published on: December 27, 2018

Area of Science:

Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
Molecular Spectroscopy
Scanning Probe Microscopy

Background:

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) enables tuning tip plasmon coupling with molecular fluorescence emitters.
Characterizing plasmon-exciton coupling relies on local fluorescence field enhancement and wavelength shifts.
Achieving molecular-scale resolution for phosphorescence has been a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate phosphorescence from isolated platinum-phthalocyanine (Pt-Phthalocyanine) molecules with molecular-scale resolution.
To analyze tip-enhanced emission spectra for understanding triplet excitation pathways.
To explore the potential of organic phosphors coupled to plasmonic structures for improved light-emitting diodes.

Main Methods:

Utilized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to probe individual Pt-Phthalocyanine molecules.
Analyzed tip-enhanced emission spectra obtained through current-induced and laser-induced phosphorescence.
Laser-induced phosphorescence was employed to directly monitor singlet-to-triplet state intersystem crossing.

Main Results:

Successfully demonstrated the investigation of phosphorescence from isolated Pt-Phthalocyanine molecules at submolecular length scales.
Provided detailed analysis of triplet excitation pathways through tip-enhanced emission spectra.
Established a method for studying molecular phosphorescence with unprecedented resolution.

Conclusions:

The study contributes to a detailed understanding of triplet excitation pathways and their control at submolecular scales.
Tip-enhanced phosphorescence spectroscopy offers a powerful tool for molecular characterization.
Coupling organic phosphors to plasmonic structures is a promising strategy for enhancing light-emitting diode performance.