Photophysical Detection of Singlet Oxygen

Abstract

The chemical reactivity of singlet oxygen (1O2) (SO) derives from its electronically excited state. Being a unique reactive oxygen species SO takes part in many important atmospheric, biological physical, chemical, and therapeutic process and attracted current research interest. To understand the mechanistic pathways in various process the detection and quantification of SO is very important. The direct method of detection is very challenging due to its highly reactive nature. Only direct method of determination of phosphorescence of SO at 1270 nm has been utilised but that also puts some limitation due to very low luminescence quantum yield. Indirect method using UV–Vis spectrophotometric, fluorescent and chemiluminescent probes has been extensively studied for this purpose. Elucidation of various mechanistic processes improvised the use of sophisticated spectroscopic detection probe for SO have been discussed in a simple and lucid manner in this article through citation of literature examples. Four major spectroscopic methods i.e. spectrophotometry, fluorescence, emission and chemiluminescence are elaborately discussed with special emphasis to chemical probes having high selectivity and sensitivity for SO.