Real-time fluorescence visualization of slow tautomerization of single free-base phthalocyanines under ambient conditions

Abstract

The emission transition dipole moments of single-molecule free-base phthalocyanines at an air/glass interface were visualized using defocused wide-field fluorescence microscopy at a temporal resolution of 100–200 ms. Isolated molecules showed slow proton tautomerization, which is consistent with previous theoretical calculations in the gas phase, which predicted large activation energies.