Polymer Characterization Using Singlet Oxygen Phosphorescence as a Spectroscopic Probe

Abstract

Singlet molecular oxygen (¹Δ_g0₂) can be produced in solid organic polymers by a variety of different methods. The phosphorescence of singlet oxygen can be monitored in both steady state and time-resolved experiments, yielding valuable information on the structure and properties of 1) the polymer and 2) solutes dissolved in the polymer. With this spectroscopic probe, we are also able to comment on specific processes that can have important practical ramifications including, for example, the degradation of polymers. In addition, this probe provides a method by which oxygen diffusion/permeation coefficients can rapidly and accurately be determined in polymer films over a wide temperature range.