Emission behavior of 1-methylaminopyrene in aqueous solution of anionic surfactants

A new fluorescent probe, methylamino derivative of pyrene, has been considered to characterize the concentration dependent emission behavior of an aqueous solution of anionic surfactants, viz., SDS, DSS, and SDBS. It was found that the emission of the probe is uniquely sensitive to the changes in surfactant (anionic) concentration due to the functional group effect of the probe over the parent moiety, pyrene. Here, 1-methylaminopyrene (MAP) showed significant quenching of emission well below the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. Excimer emission of the probe due to the formation of premicellar aggregates of the surfactant solutions at a concentration close to but below the cmc and again an enhanced emission of the probe above the cmc were observed as a consequence of definite MAP-surfactant interactions. These observations assisted the possible quantification of surfactant concentrations and their chain length dependent premicellar aggregate formations. Significant monomer emission in relation to probe distribution in micelle was analytically authenticated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies revealed the incorporation of the probe molecules in the micellar core. The fluorophore emission showed nonlinear behavior when the surfactant concentration was far above the cmc. Abrupt changes in the emission characteristics in relation to the micellar concentration led to the determination of the cmc of the surfactants.