Fluorescence is a fascinating phenomenon which can be used as a strong tool for a wide variety of
applications. There are therefore continuous development to find better and brighter fluorophores.
Fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) is a field that recently have gained increased attention due to their
high potential in many applications such as bioimaging. Yet there are still many limitations for
both single molecule fluorophores and fluorescent nanoparticles that need to be addressed.
The research presented in this thesis is the study and development of fluorescent compounds and
their optical properties. The main focus have been development and understanding of new
fluorescent nanoparticles based on small-molecule ionic isolation lattices (SMILES). This
approach seeks to overcome the challenge of aggregation induced quenching that occurs due to
strong interactions between densely packed fluorophores. In chapters 2-5 is the colour palette and
properties of SMILES NPs and SMILES materials expanded. Each project discussed in these
chapters and appended papers have contributed with new knowledge of the photophysical
processes occurring in SMILES. Among these projects is the energy transfer processes between
fluorophores in SMILES studied and utilized to form nanoparticles with properties that can be
used in further applications such as lifetime imaging.
Chapter 6 stands out as being about two project where molecular fluorophores in solution are
studied. Two different fluorophores each showed interesting emission which either gave
information on the fluorophore itself or the surrounding environment.