Direct spectroscopic observation of singlet oxygen emission at 1268 nm excited by sensitizing dyes of biological interest in liquid solution.

The direct observation of dye-photosensitized 1268-nm emission of the (1)Delta(g) --> (3)Sigma(g) transition of molecular oxygen in liquid solution at room temperature is reported. Singlet oxygen was photosensitized by UV excitation of perfluorobenzophenone in fluorocarbon solvent, by 3,4-benzpyrene and hematoporphyrin in carbon tetrachloride, and by methylene blue in water. Also reported is the development of an extremely sensitive near-infrared spectrophotometer that uses a thermoelectrically cooled lead sulfide detector, optimized optics, and a boxcar integrator as a data processor.