Two phases of trans-stilbene in a polystyrene matrix

Variability in the spectral properties of solid conformations of stilbene under various external conditions still remains obscure. The photophysical properties of trans-stilbene solution in solid polystyrene glass have been studied by absorption and time-resolved fluorescence. Concentration-induced quenching has been observed for small concentrations of stilbene. At large concentrations, the spectroscopic characteristics become split between the two phases of the sample: single-molecule properties are responsible for absorption, while the micro-crystalline phase dominates in fluorescence. Ab initio and molecular dynamics analyses suggest permanent twisting of the stilbene molecular structure upon crystallization, which supports spectroscopic phase separation.

Automated summary

The variability in the spectral properties of solid stilbene conformations under different external conditions is still not clear. The photophysical properties of trans-stilbene solution in solid polystyrene glass were investigated using absorption and time-resolved fluorescence. Concentration-induced quenching was observed at low concentrations, while at high concentrations, the spectroscopic characteristics were split between two phases of the sample. Ab initio and molecular dynamics analyses suggested a permanent twisting of the stilbene molecular structure upon crystallization, supporting the spectroscopic phase separation.