Fluorescence emission of pyrene in surfactant solutions

• Concise model of the pyrene fluorescence intensity in surfactant solutions near the cmc
• The steady-state and time resolved fluorescence intensities are accurately reproduced.
• Valid for monomer and excimer emission and for intensity ratios
• Precise binding equilibrium constant of pyrene to Triton X-100 and SDS micelles
• Consistent determination of the cmc from pyrene emission without further assumptions

The systematic description of the complex photophysical behaviour of pyrene in surfactant solutions in combination with a quantitative model for the surfactant concentrations reproduces with high accuracy the steady-state and the time resolved fluorescence intensity of pyrene in surfactant solutions near the cmc, both in the monomer and in the excimer emission bands. We present concise model equations that can be used for the analysis of the pyrene fluorescence intensity in order to estimate fundamental parameters of the pyrene–surfactant system, such as the binding equilibrium constant K of pyrene to a given surfactant micelle, the rate constant of excimer formation in micelles, and the equilibrium constant of pyrene–surfactant quenching. The values of the binding equilibrium constant KTX100 = 3300·103 M− 1 and KSDS = 190·103 M− 1 for Triton X-100 (TX100) and SDS micelles, respectively, show that the partition of pyrene between bulk water and micelles cannot be ignored, even at relatively high surfactant concentrations above the cmc. We apply the model to the determination of the cmc from the pyrene fluorescence intensity, especially from the intensity ratio at two vibronic bands in the monomer emission or from the ratio of excimer to monomer emission intensity. We relate the finite width of the transition region below and above the cmc with the observed changes in the pyrene fluorescence in this region.

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