The photoluminescent lifetime of polyelectrolytes in thin films formed via layer by layer self-assembly

We present results on luminescence lifetime studies of thin multilayer films of polyelectrolyte molecules produced via layer by layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly. We found that, in contrast to common assumptions, LbL films show measurable photoluminescent lifetimes with an average value of 6 ns. Scanning fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy studies combined with steady-state photoluminescence measurements imply that this lifetime may be due to aggregation of polyelectrolyte molecules during preparation of LbL films. This conclusion has been further confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images clearly show the presence of 100-200 nm high aggregates on the surface of these films. This aggregation of polyelectrolyte molecules contributes significantly to the experimentally detected luminescence decays of any light-emitting samples attached to LbL film, especially in a single molecule detection regime. To demonstrate this effect we compare photoluminescence lifetime results for CdTe quantum dots deposited on the surface of LbL polyelectrolyte films.