Efficient lasing action from Rhodamine-110 (Rh-110) impregnated sol-gel silica samples prepared by dip method

Rhodamine-110/sol-gel samples are prepared by sol-gel technique using dip method. Concentration dependent photophysical studies of these samples have indicated about the least possibility of aggregate formation. The lasing action of Rh-110 in silica samples is studied as a function of dye concentration. An efficient laser emission is observed when the samples are transversely pumped at 337.1 nm and 1.5 Hz repetition rate using a nitrogen laser (400 μJ energy/pulse and 4 ns pulse duration). The maximum of 166% laser efficiency of dye doped sol-gel samples compared to Rhodamine-6G (Rh-6G) in methanol is achieved. The photostability is also measured by using N₂ laser at 1 Hz and it is found nearly 165 pulses. The possible reasons for the photodegradation of the dye molecules are discussed in detail.