Exploring the location and orientation of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) cinnamaldehyde in anionic, cationic and non-ionic micelles

This Letter reports probing of non-ionic, anionic and cationic micelles utilizing different dual emission properties of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) cinnamaldehyde. Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) band is more enhanced and blue shifted in non-ionic micelle than those are in ionic micelles. In non-ionic micelle, the molecule enters in the core region whereas, in ionic micelles, it is anchored in the interfacial region with different orientations. Micellar–water interface electric field in ionic micelles was found to have profound effect on TICT decay time. Interestingly, inorganic salt-counterion binding helps the acceptor moiety to enter into the core region in anionic micelle.