Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / Inorganic Chemistry / Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence

Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence

August 28, 2018 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between photoluminescence and fluorescence is that the photoluminescence occurs via absorbing and emitting photons having either different or equal wavelengths whereas fluorescence occurs via emitting a longer wavelength than the absorbed wavelength.

Luminescence is the process of light emission. We use the prefix photo- with the term luminescence when the light emission is due to the absorption and emission of photons. Sometimes the absorbed and emitted photons have the same wavelength. However, sometimes, the absorbed wavelength is higher than the emitted wavelength. We call this type of luminescence as fluorescence. Therefore, fluorescence is a form of photoluminescence.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Photoluminescence
3. What is Fluorescence
4. Side by Side Comparison – Photoluminescence vs Fluorescence in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Photoluminescence?

Photoluminescence is a form of luminescence that occurs with a photoexcitation via photon absorption. This light emission occurs when a substance absorbs electromagnetic radiation and re-emits the radiation. The process initiates with photoexcitation. This means the electrons of the substance undergo excitations when the substance absorbs photons and electrons move to higher energy states from lower energy states. Following these excitations, there are relaxation processes as well. In the relaxation step, photons are re-radiated or emitted. The time period between the absorption and emission of photons may vary depending on the substance.

Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence

Figure 01: Schematic for the Excitation-Relaxation Processes of Photoluminescence

There are several forms of photoluminescence that differ from each other according to several parameters. When considering the wavelength of absorbed and emitted wavelengths of photons, there are two major types of fluorescence and resonance fluorescence. Fluorescence describes that the wavelength of emitted radiation is lower than the wavelength of absorbed wavelength. Resonance fluorescence describes that the absorbed and emitted radiation have equivalent wavelengths.

What is Fluorescence?

Fluorescence is a form of photoluminescence in which a substance emits light with a different wavelength to that of the absorbed wavelength. Usually, the emitted light has a longer wavelength than that of the absorbed wavelength. Therefore the energy of the emitted light is lower than the absorbed light.

Key Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence

Figure 02: Fluorescence of Different Substances under UV light-looks like a Rainbow

Most of the times, substance absorb light radiation in the UV range, emitting light in the visible region; thus, we can see a brilliant color emitting from these substances. We can see this color only when we expose the substance to UV light. However, the radiation emission stops soon after we take the substance away from the UV light source. There are many fields in which we apply the process of fluorescence, i.e. mineralogy, gemology, medicine, etc.

What is the Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence?

Photoluminescence is a form of luminescence that occurs with a photoexcitation via photon absorption. Fluorescence is a form of photoluminescence in which a substance emits light with a different wavelength to that of the absorbed wavelength. Though fluorescence is a form of photoluminescence, photoluminescence may refer to either the fluorescence or resonance fluorescence, which are different from each other depending on the wavelengths of the absorbed and emitted radiation. Based on this, the difference between photoluminescence and fluorescence is that in photoluminescence, the  wavelengths of the absorbed and emitted photons can be the same or different. But, in resonance fluorescence, the wavelength of the absorbed photons are higher than the emitted photons.

Difference Between Photoluminescence and Fluorescence in Tabular Form

Summary – Photoluminescence vs Fluorescence

Both photoluminescence and fluorescence are forms of luminescence; light emission. The key difference between photoluminescence and fluorescence is that the photoluminescence occurs via absorbing and emitting photons having either different or equal wavelengths whereas fluorescence occurs via emitting a longer wavelength than the absorbed wavelength.

Reference:

1. “Photoluminescence.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Aug. 2018. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.”Photoluminescence animation” By BlyumJ – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”Fluorescence rainbow” By Maxim Bilovitskiy – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia  

Related posts:

Difference Between Nuclear Fusion and FissionDifference Between Nuclear Fusion and Fission Difference Between Endothermic and Exothermic ReactionsDifference Between Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions Difference Between Radioactivity and RadiationDifference Between Radioactivity and Radiation Difference Between Oil in Water and Water in Oil EmulsionDifference Between Oil in Water and Water in Oil Emulsion Key Difference Between Calcium Chloride and Sodium ChlorideDifference Between Calcium Chloride and Sodium Chloride

Filed Under: Inorganic Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Mushrooms and Fungus

Difference Between Mushrooms and Fungus

What is the Difference Between Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Candida Albicans

What is the Difference Between Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Candida Albicans

Difference Between pKa and pKb 

Difference Between pKa and pKb 

What is the Difference Between Sucrose and Sucralose

What is the Difference Between Sucrose and Sucralose

Difference Between Flatworms and Roundworms

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Benzoic Acid and Benzaldehyde
  • What is the Difference Between Materia Alba and Plaque
  • What is the Difference Between Panthenol and Dexpanthenol
  • What is the Difference Between Seroma and Hernia
  • What is the Difference Between Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid
  • What is the Difference Between Argumentative and Expository Essay
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.