Organic J-Aggregate Nanodots with Enhanced Light Absorption and Near-Unity Fluorescence Quantum Yield
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High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Development of biocompatible fluorophores with small size, bright fluorescence, and narrow spectrum translate directly into major advances in fluorescence imaging and related techniques. Here, we discover that a small donor–acceptor–donor-type organic molecule consisting of a carbazole (Cz) donor and benzothiazole (BT) acceptor (CzBTCz) assembles into quasi-crystalline J-aggregates upon a formation of ultrasmall nanoparticles. The 3.5 nm CzBTCz Jdots show a narrow absorption spectrum (fwhm = 27 nm), near-unity fluorescence quantum yield (ϕ fl = 0.95), and enhanced peak molar extinction coefficient. The superior spectroscopic characteristics of the CzBTCz Jdots result in two orders of magnitude brighter photoluminescence of the Jdots compared with semiconductor quantum dots, which enables continuous single-Jdots imaging over a 1 h period. Comparison with structurally similar CzBT nanoparticles demonstrates a critical role played by the shape of CzBTCz on the formation of the Jdots. Our findings open an avenue for the development of a new class of fluorescent nanoparticles based on J-aggregates.
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The excited TICT state might be suppressed by an inhibition of conformational rotation either by embedding the molecule into a rigid matrix or by the formation of a densely packed aggregated state of the molecule.
“The excited TICT state might be suppressed by an inhibition of conformational rotation either by embedding the molecule into a rigid matrix150 or by the formation of a densely packed aggregated state of the molecule.109”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
The Spectroscopic Characterization and Semicrystalline Structure sections report strongly coupled, closely packed J-aggregates with near-unity fluorescence quantum yield. They do not say that aggregation inhibits conformational rotation or suppresses an excited TICT state. The separate rigid-matrix clause is attached to citation 150, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSome non-polymethine J-aggregates stably exist in an aqueous environment.
“Some non-polymethine J-aggregates stably exist in an aqueous environment.109,110”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
In contrast to CzBTCz, CzBT composed of the same structural motif but different symmetry (D-π-A) did not show any sign of J-aggregates upon the fabrication of the nanoparticles.
“In contrast to CzBTCz, CzBT composed of the same structural motif but different symmetry (D-π-A) did not show any sign of J-aggregates upon the fabrication of the nanoparticles.”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
The 3.5 nm size CzBTCz nanoparticles showed a narrow absorption spectrum (fwhm = 27 nm), enhanced peak molar extinction coefficient, and near-unity Φfl (Φfl = 0.95).
“The 3.5 nm size CzBTCz nanoparticles showed a narrow absorption spectrum (fwhm = 27 nm), enhanced peak molar extinction coefficient, and near-unity Φfl (Φfl = 0.95).”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
The CzBTCz dye allowed producing 3.5 nm size J-aggregate nanoparticles that emit fluorescence in the visible wavelength region with Φfl close to unity.
“The CzBTCz dye allowed producing 3.5 nm size J-aggregate nanoparticles that emit fluorescence in the visible wavelength region with Φfl close to unity.”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
Studies of the carbazole-benzothiadiazole-based D-π-A-π-D molecule (CzBTCz), which mimics the generic cyanine dye structure, revealed the formation of a highly emissive J-aggregate.
“On the contrary, studies of the carbazole (Cz)-benzothiadiazide (BT)-based D-π-A-π-D molecule (CzBTCz), which mimics the generic cyanine dye structure consisting of two large heterocyclic components connected by a π-conjugated linker, revealed the formation of a highly emissive J-aggregate (Figure 5a).109”
From The Pursuit of Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Nanoparticles with Bright Fluorescence through Molecular Design and Excited-State Engineering of Molecular Aggregates (2022) · cites this paper as [109]
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“109 The CzBTCz dye allowed producing 3.5 nm size J-aggregate nanoparticles that emit fluorescence in the visible wavelength region with Φ fl close to unity.”
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- Authors
- Piwoński, H., Nozue, S., Fujita, H., Michinobu, T., & Habuchi, S.
- Affiliations
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
- Tokyo Institute of Technology (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Piwoński, Hubert
- Habuchi, Satoshi
- Venue
- Nano Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2021-03-31
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2840-2847
- ISSN
- 1530-6984 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-6992
- PMC
- PMC8155199
- OpenAlex
- W3147378161
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 1.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Nano Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) (submittedVersion)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Repository (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Tokyo Tech Research Repository (Tokyo Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (OSR-2016-2967-CRG5)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Keywords
- J-aggregates, carbazole, benzothiazole, donor-acceptor-donor molecules, fluorescence quantum yield, light absorption enhancement, photoluminescence, fluorescence imaging, molecular self-assembly
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