Photophysical characteristics of 2-phenylbenzothiazole (PBT) substituted crown ether (CRE-PBT) molecules have been investigated in various polar protic solvents. Large Stokes' and good solvatochromic shifts have been observed for CRE-PBT molecules. It is seen that in these molecules, the fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields increase as compared to the pristine PBT molecule. Temperature-dependence studies have been carried out to understand the effect of CRE substitution and the role of C-C single bond rotation on the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.