The properties of chlorophyll (Chl) a and pheophytin (Pheo) a embedded
in the rigid anhydrous polymer films, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nit
rocellulose (NC) are reviewed. The aggregation capability of these pig
ments in two matrices is characterized by absorption, fluorescence, ex
citation spectra combined with fluorescence lifetime and time-resolved
anisotropy. The dimer creation ability for Chl a and Pheo a is strong
ly affected by the polymer system used for investigation. The Chl a an
d Pheo a ability to aggregate in polymer matrices is compared. We have
been looking for a good system suitable for the study of Properties o
f monomeric forms when embedded in the rigid matrix on the one hand, a
nd for the study of energy transfer between different forms of Chl mol
ecules on the other one. Chl a, when embedded in an anhydrous PVA matr
ix, is in a very stable monomeric form white Pheo a molecules in this
film tend to aggregate and in the NC film they exist in the monomeric
form. Thus the PVA system can be used as a model system for investigat
ion of the properties of and processes between both dimeric and monome
ric structures. The NC film, however, can be used as a rigid matrix wh
en only the existence of monomeric forms of the pigments is required.