ROTATIONAL DIFFUSION OF DYES IN MICELLAR MEDIA FROM TRANSIENT ABSORPTION

Solubilizer effects in dye solutions have been investigated by subnanosecond laser-pulse photometry. Different models for the transient dichroism of dye-micelle solutions are proposed. Computer fits of the experimental curves indicate that the model where dye molecules rotate within the liquid-like interior of the micelles is the most realistic one. Since the measured rotational diffusion times differ for different dyes in almost the same way as for pure highly-viscous solvents, the dye molecules do not act merely as labels for the rotation of the micelles, but rotate themselves considerably. It is shown that the rotational diffusion of dye molecules and micelles can be separated giving reasonable results for the size of the micelles. The results are compared with previous steady-state experiments. © 1979.