Influence of ligands on the photoluminescent properties of Eu in europium β-diketonate/PMMA-doped systems

Three kinds of europium β-diketonates Eu(DBM)₃, Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ (DBM: Dibenzoylmethane; BA: 1-Benzoylacetone; TTA: Thenoyltrifluoroacetone) were doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The doped systems were studied by using photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy, emission decay experiments and X-ray diffractometry. Eu(III) ions in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems have two distinct symmetric sites and the emission band changes greatly with the compositions. Eu(III) in the Eu(BA)₃/PMMA systems gives only one symmetric site in the doped systems and the emission band changes slightly with the compositions. Although two distinct symmetric sites of Eu(III) can be distinguished in the doped systems of Eu(TTA)₃/PMMA, the two sites have similar ⁵D₀ lifetimes and the luminescent spectra almost do not change with the compositions. XRD reveals that crystallites were formed in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems that have different crystalline structure from that of the chelate, and Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ exist in amorphous state in the doped systems. The difference between the PL properties and structures of the doped systems for the three kinds of chelates should be attributed to different interactions between the chelate molecules and between the chelate and PMMA.     

Ultrafast nonlinear optical properties of dye-doped PMMA discs irradiated by 40 fs laser pulses

The two-photon absorption (TPA) characteristics of PMMA discs doped with three different dyes were studied using an fs-pulsed Ti-Sapphire laser as the pump source, and employing the open-aperture Z-scan technique. TPA cross-sections obtained for PMMA doped with the dyes PM597, DCM and rhodamine 6G–rhodamine B (co-doped) were found to be equal to 24.7, 33.3 and 32.3 GM, respectively (1 GM=10^?50 cm⁴ s phot^?1 mol^?1). Furthermore, two-photon fluorescence was measured for the samples containing DCM and rhodamine 6G–rhodamine B (co-doped). Compared to the one-photon fluorescence spectrum, the peaks in the two-photon fluorescence spectrum were red shifted and the extent of red shift increased with increasing doping concentration. We have also observed that the red shift in the two-photon fluorescence peak of the samples in the solid form is much larger than that in the solution state. This phenomenon could be explained by a twisted intra-molecular charge transfer model.     

Dependence of surface enhanced Raman scattering on the plasmonic template periodicity

Surface enhanced Raman scattering has been investigated from rhodamine 6G molecules embedded in polymethyl methacrylate (R6G+PMMA) and coated on one-dimensional and two-dimensional gold-dielectric gratings fabricated by laser interference lithographically. The Raman signals from these plasmonic templates are 200 to 400 times larger than the signal from R6G+PMMA coated on plain gold films. The enhancement of the Raman signal varies almost periodically with the period of the grating. Finite-difference time-domain simulations show that large electromagnetic near fields occur at the metallic edges due to the resonant excitation of localized surface plasmon of the gold patches by the pump laser. These give rise to large enhancements of the Raman signal. The dependence on period is due to the combined effects of the localized surface plasmon and the periodic grating that couples the pump laser to the surface plasmon polariton.     

Fourier transform infrared spectral study of N,N′-dimethylformamide-water-rhodamine 6G mixture

Infrared absorption spectra of N,N′-dimethyl formamide in the absence and presence of water, rhodamine 6G and water–rhodamine 6G mixture are reported. Assignment of observed bands has been made on the basis of density functional theory calculations and available assignments in the literature. Certain bands show changes in their positions and intensities when water is added to N,N′-dimethylformamide. This is due to hydrogen bonding interaction between these molecules. Similar changes are also observed for dimethylformamide and Rh6G mixture to a lesser extent. The presence of Rh6G in a dimethylformamide–water mixture reverses these spectral changes due to preferential solvation of Cl^? by water molecules. Solvation reduces or nullifies the hydrogen bonding between dimethylformamide and water in the mixture.     

13C-14N REAPDOR and 13C-2D theta-REDOR NMR on a blend of tri-p-tolylamine and bisphenol-A-polycarbonate

Solid-state NMR experiments are performed on amorphous blends of tri-p-tolylamine (TTA) and polycarbonate. Amines that are similar to TTA are blended with polycarbonates and used as photoconducting components in xerography. Because of its simple molecular structure, TTA is a charge-transporting molecule that is used as a model to understand charge transport in photoconducting materials. Charge transfer between amine molecules must depend on the separation and relative orientation between amine molecules. However, little information is known about the structural relationship between the amine molecules and the polymer host, presumably because of the difficulties associated with characterizing amorphous materials. We report the results of 13C-14N rotational-echo, adiabatic-passage, double-resonance (REAPDOR) and 13C-2D theta-rotational-echo, double-resonance (theta-REDOR) magic-angle spinning NMR experiments on a TTA/polycarbonate blend. The experiments provide information about the organization of TTA relative to polycarbonate.     

A study of the interaction of rhodamine 6G with DNA by spectrophotometry and probe microscopy

The interaction of rhodamine 6G with DNA was studied by the methods of spectrophotometry and scanning probe microscopy. It was ascertained that rhodamine 6G interacts with the DNA macromolecules by cooperative binding to the exterior surface of the polymeric chain. As a result, organic nanostructures form on the surface of the polymers. The number of dye molecules in the nanostructures is estimated. The distribution of these structures along the double helix of DNA and their merging into larger conglomerates is studied.     

Fluorescence properties of dyes adsorbed to silver islands,investigated by picosecond techniques

The fluorescence properties of dye molecules (rhodamine 6G and erythrosin) adsorbed on pure glass surfaces and on silver islands films are investigated by cw and picosecond time-resolved methods. On pure glass surfaces we observe concentration quenching below a critical intermolecular distance (reduction of the fluorescence power per molecule as well as shortened and non-exponential fluorescence decay). On silver islands films the shortening in fluorescence lifetime is more drastic and is nearly independent of the intermolecular distance. This behavior suggests an electrodynamic interaction between dye monomers and plasmons in the metal particles, modified by a damping influence of dye dimers.     

Effect of Ag Nanoparticles on Optical Properties of R6G Doped PMMA Films

The composite PMMA films containing Ag nanoparticles and rhodamine 6G are prepared. We investigate the fluorescence properties and nonlinear optical properties of R6G/PMMA films influenced by Ag nanoparticles. The fluorescence enhancement factor is about 3.3. The corresponding nonlinear refractive index is measured to be -2.423 ×10^-8 esu using the Z-scan technique, which is much enhanced compared with the R6G/PMMA film. The results indicate that these enhancements are attributed to surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles.     

Enhanced photostability of photoluminescent dye-doped solutions and polymers with the addition of dielectric-oxide micro-particles

Organic dye molecules in both solid polymethyl methacrylate and in solution have been found to display greatly enhanced photostability with the addition of micro-particles. Micro-particle doped poly(methyl methacrylate) samples and solutions were prepared doped with the laser dye pyrromethene 567 and rhodamine 6G. Study of the composite dye material as a gain medium in a laser provided a controlled and sensitive test of the photostability. The micro-particle doped samples used as the active laser medium demonstrated a doubling in service life to 0.4 million pulses compared with undoped samples before the output intensity was reduced to one-half. Further addition of a singlet oxygen quencher (DABCO) enhanced the photostability to 0.6 million pulses. Possible explanations discussed include cavity QED effects, surface photophysical and photochemical interactions and thermo-mechanical effects. These observations are relevant to photoluminescent devices and in general to the photostability of organic molecules.     

Optically excited secondary emission spectra of photonic crystals based on synthetic opals

The photonic dispersion, the group-velocity dispersion, the effective mass, refractive index, and the spectral distribution of the density of photonic states near the edge of the photonic stop band are numerically calculated in the one-dimensional model for photonic crystals based on synthetic opals. The fluorescence spectra of rhodamine 6G and 2,5-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)hydroquinone molecules infiltrated into a synthetic opal are measured. For both substances, it is observed that the spontaneous emission intensity in the range of the photonic stop band is appreciably suppressed. A blue shift of the fluorescence spectrum of rhodamine 6G molecules is revealed. Secondary emission of synthetic opals infiltrated with colloidal silver is observed in the Stokes range under excitation of opals by radiation at λ = 400 nm. The spectrum of the secondary emission is located in the range 450–590 nm, which contains the stop band and intervals near its edges.     

铕铽共掺稀土聚合物的光谱分析及发光性能研究

合成了一种新型的稀土配合物Eu_0.5Tb_0.5(TTA)₃Phen,并采用原位乳液聚合法进一步制备了Eu_0.5Tb_0.5(TTA)₃Phen/PMMA稀土聚合物。利用红外光谱仪(IR)、电子探针X射线能谱仪等对其结构进行了表征,利用扫描隧道电子显微镜(SEM)、荧光光谱仪(FS)等研究了其微观形貌,并探讨了其发光性能。结果表明,聚合物中PMMA与稀土部分Eu_0.5Tb_0.5(TTA)₃Phen通过键合的方式结合, 仍保持Eu0.5Tb_0.5(TTA)₃Phen原有的发光特性;在365 nm紫外光的激发下,产生发光峰在611.8 nm附近、谱线带宽为10.4 nm的红光发射,发光亮度高,色纯度高;Eu_0.5Tb_0.5(TTA)₃Phen/PMMA具有良好的发光性能,其发光强度与MMA加入的含量有关。     

Influence of the Structure of a Macromolecular System on the Processes of Association of Molecules of Rhodamine 6G in Aqueous‐Polyelectrolytic Solutions

The processes of association of rhodamine6G molecules in aqueous solutions of polyacrylic acid are studied by spectroscopic methods. The efficiency of formation of the dimers of rhodamine 6G as a function of the concentration of the polyelectrolyte and its chain length is established. The angles between monomer molecules in the dimers of rhodamine 6G are determined for different concentrations of the polyacrylic acid and lengths of the polyion chain.     

荧光法研究几种分子在海藻酸钙空心胶囊中的缓释性能

实验中选取了带有正电罗丹明6G分子、带有负电荷荧光素分子、中性的尼罗红分子和生物分子R-藻红蛋白为模型分子.将这几种分子分别包封于海藻酸钙窄心胶囊中.实验表明囊芯分子的电性对其在海藻酸钙空心胶囊中缓释性能有影响,带有正电荷罗丹明6G分子的扩散过程中,多孔聚合物骨架扩散是主要过程.中性分子则表现出来一个膜相溶出和多孔聚合物骨架扩散共同控制的过程.带有负电荷荧光素分子,由于静电排斥作用,加剧囊芯分子的运动.从而使得荧光素分子可以直接从膜相溶出.此外.南于胶囊囊壁上带有负电,不论是带有正电荷还足带有负电荷的分子都会延长其达到扩散平衡的时间.而电中性分子由于没有库仑相互作用的影响更容易达到平衡.囊芯和囊辟相互作用强的其扩散系数小,反之其扩散系数大.R-藻红蛋白的扩散完全是一个多孔聚合物骨架扩散控制的过程.由于分子的体积比较大,因此扩散的平衡时间也比较长.     

聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯间隔的金纳米立方体与金膜复合结构的表面增强拉曼散射研究

金属纳米颗粒与金属薄膜的复合结构由于其局域表面等离子体和传播表面等离子体间的强共振耦合作用,可作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底,显著增强吸附分子的拉曼信号.本文提出了一种聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)间隔的90 nm金纳米立方体与50 nm金膜复合结构的SERS基底,通过有限元方法数值模拟,得到PMMA的最优化厚度为15 nm.实验制备了PMMA间隔层厚度为14 nm的复合结构,利用罗丹明6G (R6G)为拉曼探针分子, 633 nm的氦氖激光器作为激发光源,研究了复合结构和单一金纳米立方体的SERS效应,发现复合结构可以使探针分子产生比单一结构更强的拉曼信号.在此基础上,研究了不同浓度金纳米立方体水溶液条件下复合结构中R6G的拉曼光谱.结果表明,当金纳米立方体水溶液浓度为5.625μg/mL的条件下复合结构中R6G的拉曼信号最强,且可测量R6G的最低浓度达10~(–11) mol/L.     

准波导结构下染料薄膜的荧光光谱和放大自发辐射光谱特性

通过对RhB/PMMA和Rh6G/PMMA染料薄膜的荧光光谱和放大自发辐射(ASE)光谱的实验测量和理论分析,研究了准波导结构染料薄膜的荧光光谱和ASE光谱特性。实验上采用连续激光和脉冲激光照射,分别测量准波导结构RhB/PMMA和Rh6G/PMMA染料薄膜的荧光光谱和ASE光谱,发现荧光峰和ASE峰随着染料掺杂浓度和薄膜厚度的增加产生红移;理论上考虑准波导结构下薄膜中染料的自吸收效应,类比激光器谐振腔模型,分析低阶导模传输的增益特性,获得了荧光光谱与ASE光谱中荧光峰和ASE峰对应波长与染料掺杂浓度的关系,数值计算与实验测量相吻合。结果表明,准波导结构下薄膜中染料自吸收效应导致荧光峰及ASE峰发生红移,改变染料掺杂浓度,可以在较大调谐范围实现ASE。     

Measurement of nonlinear properties and optical limiting ability of Rhodamine6G doped silica and polymeric samples

The third order nonlinear optical properties of Rhodamine6G (Rh6G) doped silica and polymeric samples have been investigated using single beam z-scan technique under excitation by the second harmonic of Nd:YAG laser beam (532 nm). The nonlinear refractive index, nonlinear absorption coefficient, real and imaginary parts of third order nonlinear susceptibility in the samples of silica and poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrices are measured. Thermal contribution to the nonlinear refractive index in case of undoped silica samples has been calculated in order to have better accuracy of the material response contribution to third order nonlinearity. The comparative study of the optical limiting performance of Rh6G doped silica and polymeric samples show that Rh6G doped silica is relatively superior for optical limiting applications.     

Integral fluorescence enhancement by silver nanoparticles controlled via PMMA matrix

The metal-enhanced fluorescence is measured with different thickness of emission film. Silver nanoparticles are immobilized on glass slide by chemical self-assembly method. Rhodamine B molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), then spin coated on prepared silver particles substrate with different thickness from 15 nm to 70 nm. The enhanced fluorescence is observed depending on the thickness of emission film since the average distance between rhodamine B molecules and silver nanoparticles is altered by the PMMA matrix. The 5-fold enhancement is attained. The experiment was explained qualitatively by an integral fluorescence enhancement.     

Analysis on fluorescence of dual excitable Eu(TTA)3DPBT in toluene solution and PMMA

Photoluminescence of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT (TTA=thenoyltrifluoro-acetonate DPBT=2-(N,N-diethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine) in toluene and PMMA thin film are measured with excitation at 350 and 404 nm, respectively, and analyzed using Judd-Ofelt theory. Under excitation at 350 nm, it is found that Eu(TTA)₃DPBT in toluene has a larger Ω₂ value (14.33×10⁻²⁰ cm²) than that (12.70×10⁻²⁰ cm²) of Eu(TTA)₃Phen (Phen=1,10-phenanthroline) in the same solvent, and has a smaller Ω₂ value (12.70×10⁻²⁰ cm²) in PMMA than that (Ω₂=14.09×10⁻²⁰ cm²) of Eu(TTA)₃Phen in PMMA. At the same time, it can be seen that under excitation at 350 nm Ω₂ value of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT in toluene is larger than that in PMMA. Excited by 404 nm, Ω₂ of Eu(TTA)₃DPBT obtained in toluene and in PMMA are the same as that excited at 350 nm. The transition probability (A), emission cross-section (σ) and the fluorescence branching ratio (β) are also evaluated. The lifetime of ⁵D₀ metastable state is measured on 350 and 404 nm excitation, respectively. For the former situation, it is 455 μs in toluene and 640 μs in PMMA, for the latter it is 460 μs in toluene and 664 μs in PMMA. By comparing absorptions with excitations, it can be found that DPBT is more efficient than TTA as an energy donor. Phosphorescence spectra are also measured to estimate the lowest triplet level and analyze the energy transfer for DPBT and TTA, from which it is found that the energy transfer from TTA to DPBT occurs in the luminescent process.     

Thermal bleaching of rhodamine 6G in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

Thermal bleaching of rhodamine 6G in PMMA is investigated at temperatures between 65°C and 83°C with a heating time of over 300 hours. The obtained thermal bleaching rate is found to show a sudden change around 70°C.     

Spectroscopic study of the association of 6Zh rhodamine in mixtures of carbon tetrachloride with various polar solvents

The concentration-dependent changes in the absorption spectrum of 6Zh rhodamine dye in binary mixtures of CCl₄ with eleven polar solvents has been investigated. The degrees of association of the dye in the solvents have been computed and the absorption bands of its monomers and associates determined. It is shown that all the polar solvents hinder the association of 6Zh rhodamine. The magnitude of this effect, however, depends on the structure of the solvent molecules. It is determined by the strength of their interaction with the dye molecules. In most cases this interaction is of the donor-acceptor type.The authors are grateful to D. N. Shigorin for his useful comments on the results obtained.