Photoluminescence: Applications

Fluorescence and phosphorescence are among the most sensitive analytical techniques due to their lower detection limits than absorption spectrophotometry.

Non-photoluminescent inorganic analytes are determined indirectly by forming a fluorescent metal-ligand complex with an organic ligand or by measuring a decrease in fluorescence upon adding the analyte to a solution containing a fluorescent molecule.

Organic compounds with aromatic rings are typically fluorescent, while aromatic heterocycles often display phosphorescence.

Non-photoluminescent organic analytes may be incorporated into reactions producing fluorescent or phosphorescent products.

Phosphorescence and fluorescence methods are complementary, as strongly fluorescing compounds often exhibit weak phosphorescence and vice versa.

Phosphorimetry is not as widely used as fluorimetry due to low-temperature requirements and low precision.

Recently developed room-temperature phosphorimetric methods involve binding the analyte to a solid support like filter paper or incorporating the analyte into micelle cores for protecting the triplet state.