McPhee, Jeffrey, authorVan Orden, Alan K., advisorLevinger, Nancy E., committee memberBarisas, B. George, committee memberPrieto, Amy L., committee memberLuger, Karolin, committee member2007-01-032007-01-032010http://hdl.handle.net/10217/45999This dissertation describes the use of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy to probe the effects of localized confinement on the water soluble dye Cyanine-3 (Cy3) and the dynamics of intermicellar interactions using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The first set of experiments presents a wide range of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy data which indicate that the Cy3 molecules form H-aggregates at concentrations so dilute (nM) that this behavior is not observed in bulk aqueous solution. This unique behavior allowed for a series of FCS and dynamic light scattering measurements to be performed on the same system. These results indicate the formation of a transient reverse micelle dimer, whose lifetime has been identified to be on the order of 15 μs. Furthermore, preliminary experiments are presented on the same reverse micelle system containing the Rhodamine 6G and the results are consistent with those obtained for Cy3 in the reverse micelles. Lastly, fluorescence resonance energy transfer within the reverse micelles was investigated using Cy3 and Cy5. The preliminary results suggest that FRET may be occurring within this extremely confined environment. The work as a whole provides insight into the nature of confinement as well as the dynamics occurring within the world of reverse micelles.doctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.Florescence spectroscopySpectrum analysisReversed micellesText