Effect of simple aliphatic alcohol thin films on the laser induced excimer fluorescence decay of naphthalene on \alpha-alumina during temperature programmed desorption

Abstract

The effect of a homologous series of simple aliphatic alcohols on the laser induced fluorescence decay of naphthalene that had been vapor deposited on a crystal of α-alumina during temperature programmed desorption was observed. At temperatures before the desorption of the alcohol, thermally induced percolation caused the formation of molecular naphthalene possibly due to solvation. Concurrently, a relatively unstable excimer species was observed that had a much 128 Nicole K. Grabe, Marcus B. Anthony, K. A. Martin and A. M. Nishimurasmaller laser induced fluorescence decay rate constant than at deposition. In the presence of the alcohol thin film, thermally irreversible rearrangement of the naphthalene adlayer occurred that resulted in excimers that have increased rate constants and are postulated to be energetically more stable than the excimer formed at deposition.