Applications and limitations of uranyl ion as a photophysical probe

Uranyl ion has a long-lived luminescent excited state, which can be used as a probe for the aggregation behaviour in a variety of surfactant and polym eric systems. The general spectroscopy and photophysics of this species are discussed, and the applications to specific micellar, microemulsion, vesic ular and liquid crystalline systems presented. It is shown that both dynami c and structural information can be obtained from spectral and kinetic data . Examples of applications of uranyl probe studies to technologically impor tant mesoscopic and mesoporous systems involving metal oxides, or their sal ts, and to humic acids and soils will also be reviewed. Emphasis will be gi ven to both the advantages and restrictions on the use of this useful photo physical probe. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.