Substrate effects on photophysical properties of fluorescent self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)

Substrate materials play an important role to modulate the photophysical properties of fluorescent self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constructed on them. The substrate-fluorophore interactions in fluorescent SAMs can affect their fluorescence intensity. Hence, it is important to take into account such alteration of fluorescence properties and study the underlying mechanisms. In this brief overview, substrate effects on fluorescence properties of chemisorbed or physisorbed fluorescent SAMs on two-dimensional (chips) and three-dimensional (nanoparticles) surfaces are highlighted. Examples of fluorescence quenching and enhancement on various substrate materials by different factors are discussed and analyzed. Additionally, some strategies to limit metallic substrate-fluorophore interactions are discussed briefly. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.