Comparison of the photophysical parameters for three perylene bisimide derivatives by single-molecule spectroscopy

Characterization of the photophysical parameters for three perylene bisimide derivatives is presented. We exploited time-resolved and steady-state spectroscopy on both ensembles and single molecules under ambient as well as cryogenic (1.4 K) conditions. The finding is that these chromophores show extraordinary high fluorescence-emission rates, low intersystem crossing yields to the triplet state, and relatively short triplet lifetimes.