Purcell gain equalized zero-mode waveguide.

We refresh the design of zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) by introducing metamaterials that makes the zeroth order resonant mode existence. Of particular importance, the resulting electromagnetic field exhibits nearly constant distribution but not a trivial solution of Maxwell's equation, showing great advantage to equalize the excitation rate of molecules throughout the waveguides. A closed form expression for the wave impedance is derived which is verified by the finite-difference time-domain simulations. Benefitted from the cavity Purcell effect which is lacking in existing ZMWs, fluorescence amplification and lifetime reduction are simultaneously enhanced. A practical design where the excitation volume reduced down to sub-zeptoliter and the fluorescence lifetime shortened to picosecond scale is illustrated. This result makes single molecule real time (SMRT) sensing of biochemical reactions at biophysically relevant concentrations (~ µM) possible, combining off-the-shelf ultrafast lasers.

Effect of ground-state twisting on the trans --> cis photoisomerization and TICT state formation of aminostilbenes.

The synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, and photochemical behavior of a series of methyl- and ethylene-bridge-substituted trans-4-(N-(4-cyanophenyl)amino)stilbenes (3-8) are reported and compared to those of the parent compound 1CN. Aminostilbene 1CN displays dual fluorescence in polar solvents due to planar and twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (PICT and TICT) states. Alkyl substitution on the stilbene group of 1CN significantly perturbs its photochemistry, including fluorescence, trans --> cis photoisomerization, and TICT state formation. The alkyl substituent effect can be dissected into electronic and steric influences, and both are position dependent, which is vinyl alpha-carbon > vinyl beta-carbon > phenyl o-carbon. The main outcome of the alkyl substituent effect is to lower the barrier for the singlet-state photoisomerization. As a result, the quantum yield for photoisomerization is increased, and that for fluorescence is reduced. The corresponding quantum yield for TICT state formation in polar solvents is reduced only when significant ground-state twisting (a steric influence) is present. The alkyl substitution exerts little or no effect on the rate of intersystem crossing.