The effect of an external heavy atom on the sensitized room temperature phosphorescence in aqueous micellar solutions of sodium dodecylsulphate

The process of triplet-triplet excitation energy transfer between a triphaf lavine molecule (donor) and molecules of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAH) (acceptor) in micelles of sodium dodecylsulphate was studied. The sens itized room-temperature phosphorescence was shown to occur in the presence of external thallium ''heavy" ions for pyrene and benz[a]anthracene. The de cay rate constants of PAH tripler states, as well as the quenching rate con stants of these states by thallium ions in the case of a direct excitation of PAH in their absorption band and by triplet-triplet energy transfer from triphaflavine were determined and discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.