Advances of sensitive techniques in laser spectroscopy

Different techniques are used for the sensitive detection of overtone transitions of small molecules, such as H₂S, C₂H₂, OCS, O₃ in the visible and near infrared region. The techniques include: phase-modulated or wavelength-modulation absorption spectroscopy with a widely tunable single mode diode laser, opto-acoustic spectroscopy in resonance cells with a color center laser or a Ti:Sapphire laser, and sub-Doppler opto-thermal spectroscopy in cold collimated molecular beams, using a low temperature bolometer as detector. The three techniques are compared with regard to sensitivity and spectral resolution. The mass selective sensitive detection of small metal clusters Li₃ and Na₃ and their high resolution sub-Doppler spectroscopy, using resonant two-photon ionization with cw lasers, is briefly discussed.     

Controlling the White‐Light Generation of [(RSn)4E6]: Effects of Substituent and Chalcogenide Variation

Adamantane‐type organotin chalcogenide clusters of the general composition [(RT)₄S₆] (R=aromatic substituent, T=Si, Ge, Sn) have extreme non‐linear optical properties that lead to highly directional white‐light generation (WLG) upon irradiation with an IR laser diode. However, the mechanism is not yet understood. Now, a series of compounds [(RSn)₄E₆] (R=phenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, CH₂CH₂(C₆H₄)CO₂Et; E=S, Se), were prepared, characterized, and investigated for their nonlinear optical properties. With the exception of crystalline [(BnSn)₄S₆], all these compounds exhibit WLG with similar emission spectra; slight blue‐shifts are observed by introduction of cyclopentadienyl substituents, while the introduction of Se in the inorganic core can provoke a red‐shift. These investigations disprove the initial assumption of an aromatic substituent being a necessary precondition; the precondition seems to be the presence of (cyclic) substituents providing enough electron density.     

Color tuning by co-doping of Er doped TiO2 phosphors within a fixed Er concentration

In this paper, we report the color tuning of Er doped TiO₂ upconversion phosphors within a fixed Er concentration using 976 nm semiconductor laser diode excitation. By codoping with Mo, Yb or Li ions in the Er doped TiO₂, the green and red upconversion emissions from the ²H_11/2/⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er ions were enhanced selectively and the color output of Er doped TiO₂ could be tuned by different intensity ratios of green to red emissions. The two-photon absorption processes were responsible for the green and red upconversion emissions of Er–Mo, Er–Yb and Er–Li codoped TiO₂ phosphors, and the corresponding enhanced mechanisms were discussed. It is expected that these color tuned phosphors within a fixed Er concentration have great potential for applications in biology, displays and other optical technology.     

Diode laser absorption measurements at the Hα-transition in laser induced plasmas on different targets

The diode laser atomic absorption spectroscopy (DLAAS) technique has been utilized to assess the degree of optical opacity of plasma at the wavelength of the H_α-line. The plasma is produced at atmospheric conditions by focusing a 6 ns Nd:YAG laser pulse at 1.064 μm on different solid target materials including aluminum, iron and titanium as major elements as well as flat pieces of plastic and wood characterized by a high content of hydrogen. The optical depth was investigated as a function of delay times ranging from 0 to 5 μs, and at laser fluences ranging from 7 to 19 J/cm², all at a fixed gate time of 1 μs. The results show that the plasma associated with metallic targets is almost optically thin at the H_α-line over all fluences and at delay times ≥ 1 μs, but rather thick for hydrogen-rich targets (plastic and wood) over all delay times and fluences.     

A Spectroscopic Study of the Effects of Various Solvents and Sol-Gel Hosts on the Chemical and Photochemical Properties of Thionin and Nile Blue A

Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-based gels were doped with two optically active organic indicators, thionin and nile blue A. Before trapping in a sol-gel host, thionin and nile blue A were both evaluated for solvent and protonation effects on their spectral properties. Only extreme pH values provided by HCl, NaOH, and NH₄OH produced new absorption and/or fluorescence bands. Introduction of nile blue A into alkaline environments (0.1N NaOH, NH₄OH) results in the appearance of a broad absorption band centered near 520 nm whereas highly acidic environments (1N HCl) show a reduction of the 635 nm absorption peak accompanied by an absorption band located near 460 nm. A marked decrease is observed in the optical density of thionin in 1N HCl solution which results in a reduction in the fluorescence intensity. The absorption and fluorescence spectra also reveal a decrease in a pH 11 solution of NH₄OH as compared to neutral conditions. Both dyes formed dimers when the sol-gel host, initially synthesized with TEOS, was organically modified with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). However, thionin dimers were present in all silica-based sol-gel compositions, as evidenced by the absorption and fluorescence spectra. Substitution of MTMS for some of the TEOS in the gel matrix resulted in blue shifts in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of nile blue A. The absorption peak shifted 50 nm to 596 nm whereas the fluorescence shifted around 40 nm to 635 nm. These blue shifts resulted from the reduced polarity of the silica-based xerogel. Thionin also exhibited shifts in its absorption and fluorescence spectra with organic modification by MTMS. The absorption shifted approximately 3 nm to 595 nm while the fluorescence maximum decreased 7 nm to 630 nm. The blue shifts in the spectra of thionin with additions of MTMS were attributed to surface sites that altered the molecular structure of the adsorbed thionin molecules.     

Electrical and optical properties of inorganic complexes C36H76N2O9ClNa and C14H12N2O4TeBr2

The electrical properties of some inorganic samples were studied as functions of temperature and the results were analyzed. These samples activation energies were calculated from the electrical conductivity measurements. Also, a detailed study of optical absorption is presented. The optical absorption spectra are measured in the UV+invisible wavelength range 200–1100 nm. The absorption coefficient and value optical energy gaps were determined from the absorption spectra. The complex C₃₆H₇₆N₂O₉ClNa is characterized by direct optical absorption with an optical edge at 4.49 eV. However, the complex C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄TeBr₂ is characterized by indirect optical absorption with an optical edge at 1.45 eV, and a nearby direct one at hν=1.80 eV.     

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) of H2O,H2S,H2Se and H2Te

Electronic excitation in H₂O, H₂S, H₂Se and H₂Te molecules has been studied by the EELS technique. Spectra of H₂S and H₂Se are remarkably similar with the 1b₁-nd transition most intense. The intensity of the first transition 1b₁-nsa₁ decreases through H₂O to H₂Se and this transition is absent in H₂Te. Transitions observed by EELS have been compared with optical absorption studies. A correlation diagram of the occupied and the excited states has been provided for these four molecules by making use of UVPES and EELS.     

Fluorescent porphyrins trapped in monolithic SiO2 gels

Macrocyclic molecules play key roles in basic processes in living organisms. Free bases and the metal complexes of porphyrins exhibit a wide range of important optical properties. In these systems the position of the most intense absorption band depends on the peripheral substituents of the macrocycle. Sol-gel methods have generally allowed the successful trapping of porphyrins into inorganic networks. The materials obtained are strong and transparent monolithic gels, but in the majority of cases the red fluorescence of the porphyrins disappears with ageing. We have evaluated the effect of the type and spatial disposition of the substituents in the porphyrin macrocycle periphery on key optical properties, with particular emphasis on the conservation of red fluorescence when porphyrins are simply trapped or covalently bonded to the inorganic matrix. Here, we report the use of the sol-gel procedures to obtain monolithic gels with the hydroxyl- or amino-substituted α, β, γ, δ-tetraphenylporphyrins, (H₂T(S)PP), simply trapped or covalently bonded to the SiO₂ matrix.     

Direct absorption measurement of the spin—orbit splitting of the ground state in atomic fluorine

We have measured the three hyperfine components of the spin—orbit split (²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} → ²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}) ground state in atomic fluorine by diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The measurement improves the accuracy of the two lines previously reported (404.175 and 403.969 cm^?1), with the third line at 404.210 cm^?1. This confirms the spacing of the hyperfine components measured by EPR, and establishes diode laser absorption as a viable technique for determining F-atom concentrations.     

Control of optical properties of gel-derived oxide coating films containing fine metal particles

Control of the optical properties of gel-derived oxide films containing fine metal particles is described. The duration of the aging of Si(OC₂H₅)₄-derived sols and the amount of water for hydrolyzing Si(OC₂H₅)₄ were found to greatly affect the size and the shape of Au particles formed in the silica matrix, and accordingly the optical absorption of the Au/SiO₂ composite films. Employing dielectric media with high refractive indices like TiO₂ was shown to shift the absorption peak of Au particles to longer wavelengths. Pd/TiO₂ and Pt/TiO₂ composite films showed absorption in the visible region.     

Nonlinear optical properties of polyvinylcarbazole composites with graphene

The study has focused on polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) composites with graphene. It has been shown that there is a noticeable nonadditive shoulder on the long-wavelength edge of the optical absorption of PVK in these samples, which can be attributed to the formation of a charge-transfer complex between PVK as a donor and graphene as an acceptor. The formation of the complex causes a significant nonlinear optical effect in the PVK/graphene composite. The revealed increase in both the nonlinearity coefficient with increasing laser intensity and the cross section with increasing incident energy density is due to the formation of the graphene^?· radical anion, an additional species contributing to nonlinear absorption, with an increase in the radiation energy density. Nonlinear optical properties of PVK composites with graphene isolated from a solution in tetrachloroethane after 1.5-h centrifugation (sample 1) have been considered. It has been suggested that a significant decrease in optical transmission of laser radiation by the composite T _OA = 0.4 at an energy density at focus of 502 J/cm² is due to the formation of the PVK/graphene charge-transfer complex responsible for the nonadditive shoulder on the long-wavelength optical absorption edge of PVK. During photoexcitation of graphene in the PVK/graphene composites at a laser wavelength of 1064 nm, mobile holes are generated in PVK, indicating the formation of graphene^?· radical anions as a result of charge transfer from PVK to photoexcited graphene. The observed increase in both β with an increase in the laser radiation intensity and the cross section (σ_exc — σ₀) with an increase in the incident energy density may be due to either the contribution of nonlinear transitions (S ₀ → S ₂, S ₀ → S ₁ → S ₂, T ₁ → T ₂) or the formation of the additional species, the graphene-· radical anions, participating in nonlinear absorption by increasing the energy density at the focus (F _foc, J/cm²).     

Two-photon fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide based on a red-emitting benzocoumarin dye

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter and plays intriguing biological roles. To study the biological role of H₂S, efficient fluorescent probes are in great demand. For imaging of H₂S in deep-tissue, a two-photon probe that emits in the red wavelength region is of choice to avoid the autofluorescence from intrinsic biomolecules. Here, we disclose such a probe, which, developed based on an acetyl benzocoumarin fluorophore, can be excited at 900?nm under two-photon excitation and emit in the red region. The probe shows high reactivity, selectivity, and sensitivity in in vitro assays. Two-photon microscopic imaging of H₂S in HeLa cells aided by the probe demonstrates that it is potentially useful to study H₂S level changes in cells and tissues influenced by external stimuli.     

基于硫堇掺杂的聚乙烯醇薄膜的光波导传感器检测硫化氢气体

采用旋转甩涂法将硫堇掺杂的聚乙烯醇薄膜固定在K⁺交换玻璃光波导表面,研制出一种高灵敏硫化氢气体传感器。 传感膜与硫化氢(H₂S)气体作用时,薄膜颜色从紫色变为无色,从而降低薄膜对倏逝波的吸收,使传感器的输出光强度（信号）增强。 采用流动注射法对H₂S气体进行检测。 实验结果表明,H₂S传感器对浓度在0.14~56 mg/m3范围的H₂S气体具有良好的线性响应（r=0.99667）,检出限为0.11 mg/m³(S/N=3),相对标准偏差为4.0%,响应时间（t90）＜2 s。 该传感器具有灵敏度高、响应快、可逆性和重复性好等特点。     

Colorimetric Carbonyl Sulfide (COS)/Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Donation from γ‐Ketothiocarbamate Donor Motifs

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a biologically active molecule that exhibits protective effects in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Although several H₂S‐related biological effects have been discovered by using H₂S donors, knowing how much H₂S has been released from donors under different conditions remains challenging. Now, a series of γ‐ketothiocarbamate (γ‐KetoTCM) compounds that provide the first examples of colorimetric H₂S donors and enable direct quantification of H₂S release, were reported. These compounds are activated through a pH‐dependent deprotonation/β‐elimination sequence to release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is quickly converted into H₂S by carbonic anhydrase. The p‐nitroaniline released upon donor activation provides an optical readout that correlates directly to COS/H₂S release, thus enabling colorimetric measurement of H₂S donation.     

Optical Nonlinearities of Phthalocyanines and Naphthalocyanines

The nonlinear absorption and refraction of soluble phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines have been measured with z-scan technique using 8 ns, 532 nm laser pulses. The excited-state absorption cross-section and the excited-state refractive-index cross section have been estimated under the consideration of laser induced thermal effect. The excited state absorption induced n2 and Re χ⁽³⁾ values are in the range of 10^?12 esu. These observed data are enhanced by the concentrations of both metal substituted Pc's and Nc's, but this increment became very small for the metal free phthalocyanine. During the optical limiting experiments, a 25% linear transmitted solution of R₈PcH² can limit laser pulses to ≤ 120 μJ from incident energies as high as 2.0 mJ, and this limitation moved down to ≤ 50 μJ when replacing R₈PcCu from P₈PcH₂. A similar property has also been observed for the metal substituted naphthalocyanines. The results indicate that both the nonlinear refraction and optical limiting properties should be strongly affected by the metal induced triplet-state nonlinear absorption in both Pc's and Nc's. Moreover, the laser pulses created a self trapped filament inside the solution of this optical limiter, while emitting time-resolved, concentric rings on a projection screen, which could be induced by the thermal lensing effect. The various optical nonlinear properties observed from these materials should make them valuable as an optical limiter.     

Isotope ratio analysis on micron-sized particles in complex matrices by Laser Ablation-Absorption Ratio Spectrometry

Laser ablation has been combined with dual tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry to measure ¹⁵²Gd:¹⁶⁰Gd isotope ratios in micron-size particles. The diode lasers are tuned to specific isotopes in two different atomic transitions at 405.9 nm (¹⁵²Gd) and 413.4 nm (¹⁶⁰Gd) and directed collinearly through the laser ablation plume, separated on a diffraction grating, and detected with photodiodes to monitor transient absorption signals on a shot-by-shot basis. The method has been characterized first using Gd metal foil and then with particles of GdCl₃·xH₂0 as binary and ternary mixtures with ¹⁵²Gd:¹⁶⁰Gd isotope ratios ranging from 0.01 to 0.43. These particulate mixtures have been diluted with Columbia River sediment powder (SRM 4350B) to simulate environmental samples and we show the method is capable of detecting a few highly-enriched particles in the presence of a >100-fold excess of low-enrichment particles, even when the Gd-bearing particles are a minor component (0.08%) in the SRM powder and widely dispersed (1178 particles detected in 800,000 ablation laser shots). The implications for monitoring ²³⁵U:²³⁸U enrichment ratios in airborne particle samples, as related to the nuclear industry, are discussed.     

Stimulated Raman scattering from H2+ ions

The observation of optical signals due to light scattering from H₂⁺ molecular ions is reported and discussed. By focusing Q-switched 1064 nm Nd : YAG laser light in H₂ at 20 bar, optical frequencies have been generated. They are assigned partly to stimulated Raman scattering from H₂⁺ and partly from H₂ molecules. The scattered radiation (Stokes-shifted 1064 nm beam) was transformed into visible light via higher-order four-wave mixing processes. The frequencies thus obtained could be observed with the naked eye if the scattered light was dispersed and projected on a white screen. The temperature of the gas in the focal region of the laser beam was estimated to be 1030 ± 300 K.     

The preparation of hot-pressed chalcogenide spinels

The preparation of chalcogenide spinel powders is reviewed. Microcrystalline powders are formed by the thermal reaction of mixtures of anhydrous cadmium and chromium chlorides or coprecipitated cadmium and chromium hydroxides with H₂S, Ar + CS₂, or H₂ + Se. These spinel powders are hot pressed to form highly dense, polycrystalline disks. The effects of pressing variables on optical absorption coefficients are given. The spinel powders and hot-pressed disks are characterized and optical spectra, refractive index, and Faraday rotation data are given.     

Hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structure and third-order nonlinear optical properties of a 3D coordination polymer containing 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylate (BPTC) and pyrazine ligands

A mixed-ligand compound, [Ni₂(BPTC)(pyz)?·?2H₂O] _n (0.5H₂O) _n (BPTC?=?3,3′,4, 4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylate, pyz?=?pyrazine), has been prepared hydrothermally by assembly of BPTC, NiCl₂·6H₂O and pyz. X-ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal reveals the three-dimensional framework assembled from pyz-pillared two-dimensional sheets. Three types of channels in one direction are established inside the structure. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties in DMF have been studied by Z-scan technique using an 8?ns laser at 532?nm. The results reveal that the new compound exhibits strong NLO absorption and self-focusing refractive performance (n ₂?=?2.7?×?10^?17?m²?W^?1).