Picosecond fluorescence decays from electronic excited states of 2,2′-bipyridine solutions

The photophysics of 2,2′-bipyridine in solution has been studied using picosecond excitation and single photon counting detection technique. Excited state relaxations could occur through non reactive (internal conversion, radiative decay) and reactive (photoisomerization) channels. The solvent influences the decay both indirectly (energy ordering of states) or directly through the friction exerted on the isomerization coordinate.