Aggregation of molecules is controlled in microdroplets

Abstract

Molecular de-aggregation was observed at the air/water interface of aqueous microdroplets. We probed this phenomenon using dyes such as Rhodamine 6G (R6G), Rhodamine B, acridine orange, and fluorescein, which show aggregation-induced shift in fluorescence. The fluorescence micrographs of microdroplets derived from the aqueous solutions of these dyes show that they are monomeric at the air/water interface, but highly aggregated at the core. We propose that rapid evaporation of the solvent influences the de-aggregation of molecules at the air–water interface of the microdroplets.