Single perylene diimide dendrimers as single-photon sources

Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy was performed on a number of perylene diimide multichromophores with different dendritic geometries, with the particular goal of characterizing their performance as single-photon sources at room temperature. The quality of the different perylene diimide-containing dendrimers as single-photon sources was evaluated by determining the Mandel parameter. Values similar to ones reported previously for perylene monoimide dendrimers were found. The different arrangements of the chromophores in the different dendrimers do not noticeably affect their efficiency as single-photon emitters. Due to the formation of oxygen-enhanced long dark states, anaerobic conditions are found to be the best for optimizing their performance, which is in contrast with the case for perylene monoimide containing dendrimers.