Excited state proton transfer of carbazole. A convenient way to study microheterogeneous environments

Excited state proton transfer of carbazole gives rise to dual fluorescence from the two prototropic species. Simultaneous consideration of the two emissions takes care of many of the instrumental artifacts. The relative intensity of the two emissions of carbazole is sensitive not only to the pH of the bulk medium but also the microenvironment around the probe. Hence, excited state proton transfer of carbazole has been well studied and exploited extensively to study the detail of microheterogeneous liquid environments like aqueous micelles, cyclodextrins etc. Effect of additive like urea has also been monitored via this photoreaction.