Surface and fluorescence properties of a novel fluorescent surfactant

A novel kind of fluorescent surfactant having 7-hydroxylcoumarin group in the long alkyl chain was synthesized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension (γcmc) at CMC and absorption, fluorescence properties of this product were determined. From the variations of fluorescence spectra in different solvents, it is observed that the polarity and dielectric constant of the solvents play important roles in the maximum fluorescence intensity and wavelength. Moreover, the surprised exhibition of two fluorescence bands in neutral and alkaline solutions has been attributed to the superexciplex formation of the product molecules. Also, the lower product concentration measuring the fluorescence properties as well as the supposed configuration of hydrogen bond of the product indicate that the larger aggregations cannot exist in alkaline solutions. The superexciplex is a possibility with two or more polar excited molecules together to form an excited state association.