A method of fabricating a fluorescent particle emitting desired fluorescence when excited by irradiation with light of a predetermined wavelength, comprising:
- determining a candidate derivative that is the azobenzene derivative denoted by general formula (II):
- wherein, in general formula (II), R1 denotes a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, cyano group, ester group, ketone group, -CA3, —(C═O)A, —(C═O)NA2, -BA, -OA, -SA, -NA2, —(P═O)A2 or an organic fluorescent group, where A denotes a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group or alkyl group, as well as when multiple atoms and/or groups denoted by A are present in a single group, they are identical to or different from each other, R2 to R9 each independently denotes a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, cyano group, ester group, ketone group, -CA″3, —(C═O)A″, —(C═O)NA″2, -BA″, -OA″, -SA″, -NA″2, —(P═O)A″2 or an organic fluorescent group, where A″ denotes a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group or alkyl group, as well as when multiple atoms and/or groups denoted by A″ are present in a single group, they are identical to or different from each other, wherein at least R4 and R5 in two phenylene rings bonded through an azo group are substituents other than hydrogen atoms, and when multiple atoms and/or groups denoted by any of R2 to R9 are present with n and/or m being an integer equal to or greater than 2, they are identical to or different from each other, X denotes an alkylene group optionally comprising a hetero atom, and m and n each independently denotes an integer ranging from 1 to 8, where, when multiple phenylene groups are present with n being an integer equal to or greater than 2, they are identical to or different from each other, as well as when multiple phenylene groups are present with m being an integer equal to or greater than 2, they are identical to or different from each other, which is a candidate for an azobenzene derivative used to obtain the fluorescent particle;
- forming aggregates of the candidate derivative by irradiating with UV light a solution comprising the candidate derivative and an organic solvent;
- irradiating the aggregates formed with excitation light of the desired wavelength;
- when the fluorescence emitted by irradiation with the excitation light is:
- (1) the desired fluorescence, determining the candidate derivative as the azobenzene derivative for use in fabricating the fluorescent particle;
- (2) light of shorter wavelength than the desired fluorescence, determining, as the azobenzene derivative for use in fabricating the fluorescent particle, the azobenzene derivative of formula (II),
- which has a structure in which one or more substituents comprised in the candidate derivative has been replaced with one or more substituents of higher electron-donating ability,
- which has a structure in which one or more electron-donating groups have been incorporated into the candidate derivative, and/or
- which has a structure in which one or more atoms comprised in the ring structure of the candidate derivative has been replaced with one or more atoms of higher electron-donating ability;
- or
- (3) light of longer wavelength than the desired fluorescence, determining, as the azobenzene derivative for use in fabricating the fluorescent particle, the azobenzene derivative of formula an (II),
- which has a structure in which one or more substituents comprised in the candidate derivative has been replaced with one or more substituents of higher electron-withdrawing ability,
- which has a structure in which one or more electron-withdrawing groups have been incorporated into the candidate derivative, and/or
- which has a structure in which one or more atoms comprised in the ring structure of the candidate derivative has been replaced with one or more atoms of higher electron-withdrawing ability;
- and
- irradiating with UV light a solution comprising the azobenzene derivative that has been determined and an organic solvent to form aggregates of the determined azobenzene derivative.