Polarized absorption and anomalous temperature dependence of fluorescence depolarization in cylindrical J-aggregates Original Research Article

We study chiral J-aggregates of the amphiphilic dye 1A that are spontaneously and asymmetrically generated from achiral dye monomers. These aggregates occur in two types. One type possesses a threefold split J-absorption band and forms micrometer-sized superhelices. The other type has a twofold split J-absorption band and forms smaller nanoparticles. We show that the analysis of optical experiments with polarized light in terms of an exciton model yields strong indications that the smaller aggregates have a cylindrical structure as well; the lower exciton band is polarized along the cylinder axis, while the higher band is polarized perpendicular to it. Our analysis allows for an estimate of the number of molecules around the circumference of the cylinder. Fluorescence–polarization excitation spectra at room temperature confirm the cylinder model. At low temperature, these spectra reveal a surprising loss of fluorescence polarization upon excitation in the higher exciton band. Possible explanations for this observation are discussed.