Quantum yields of triplet formation in solutions of chlorophyll

Abstract

The method of flash photolysis has been used for direct measurement of the quantum yields of triplet formation in dilute chlorophyll solutions at 23 $^\circ$C. In ether solution, the triplet yields were found to be 0.64 and 0.88 for chlorophyll a and b, respectively. In very dry hydrocarbon solution, the yields decrease by at least a factor of 5. It is suggested that the low yields of fluorescence and intersystem crossing in dry solvents are due to dissociation of excited singlet dimer chlorophyll into ground state monomer species.