The electronic and optical properties of quaterylene in controlled concentr
ation solutions have been investigated by means of optical absorption, phot
oluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy. The
absolute quantum yields (QY) of photoluminescence for solutions of differe
nt concentrations have also been measured using an integrating sphere. The
molecule shows a peculiar behaviour compared to those of shorter oligomers
of the same family. Optical activity in two well distinct energy region can
be seen. We found the low energy absorption and emission to be due to aggr
egate formation. We tentatively assign the high energy optical activity to
dimer formation.