Stimulated Emission from Rhodamine 6G Aggregates Self-Assembled on Amyloid Protein Fibrils

Amyloid fibrils are excellent bioderived nanotemplates for controlling molecular and optical properties of small molecules such as organic dyes. Here we demonstrate that two representative fibril-forming proteins, lysozyme and insulin, from the amyloids family can determine the optical signature of rhodamine 6G. Their structural variety leads to a unique molecular arrangement of dye aggregates on the biotemplate surface. This significantly influences the light amplification threshold as well as the stimulated emission profiles, which show remarkable broadband wavelength tunability. We show in addition that amyloid fibrils can be potentially used in constructing broadband emission biolasers

Electrically controlled white laser emission through liquid crystal/polymer multiphases

White lasers are becoming increasingly relevant in various fields since they exhibit unprecedented properties in terms of beam brightness and intensity modulation. Here we introduce a white laser based on a polymer matrix encompassing liquid crystals and multiple organic chromophores in a multifunctional phase-separation system. The separation of the hydrophilic matrix and the hydrophobic liquid crystals leads to the formation of a complex optically active layer, featuring lasing emission tuneable from blue to red. White laser emission is found with an optical excitation threshold of approximately 12 mJ/cm2. Importantly, an external electric field can be used to control the device emission intensity. White lasers with low-voltage (≤10 V) controllable emission might pave the way for a new generation of broadband light sources for analytical, computational, and communication applications

Amplified spontaneous emission in the spiropyran-biopolymer based system

Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon in the 6-nitro-1′,3′,3′-trimethylspiro[2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-indolin] organic dye dispersed in a solid matrix has been observed. The biopolymer system deoxyribonucleic acid blended with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride served as a matrix. ASE appeared under sample excitation by UV light pulses (λ=355 nm) coming from nanosecond or picosecond neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers and has been reinforced with green (λ=532 nm) light excitation followed UV light pulse. The ASE characteristics in function of different excitation pulse energies as well as signal gain were measured

Amplified spontaneous emission of Rhodamine 6G embedded in pure deoxyribonucleic acid

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is commonly viewed as a genetic information carrier. However, now it is recognized as a nanomaterial, rather than as a biological material, in the research field of nanotechnology. Here, we show that using pure DNA, doped with rhodamine 6G, we are able to observe amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon. Moderate ASE threshold, photodegradation, and reasonable gain coefficient observed in this natural host gives some perspectives for practical applications of this system in biophotonics. Obtained results open the way and will be leading to construction of truly bio-lasers using nature made luminophores, such as anthocyanins

Influence of surfactant on dynamics of photoinduced motions and light emission of a dye-doped deoxyribonucleic

Pure deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is known to be soluble in water only and exhibits poor temperature stability. In contrary, it is well known that the complex of DNA - with cetyltrimethyl ammonium (CTMA) is insoluble in water but soluble in alcohols and can be processed into very good optical quality thin films by solution casting or spin deposition. Despite the success of DNA-CTMA, there is still need for new cationic surfactants which would extend the range of available solvents for DNA complex. We test and present experimental results of influence of new surfactants replacing CTMA in the DNA complex and based on benzalkonium chloride (BA) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDCA) on their optical properties. Particularly, we were interested in all optical switching and light generation in amplified spontaneous emission process in these materials

Dye Stabilization and Wavelength Tunability in Lasing Fibers Based on DNA

Lasers based on biological materials are attracting an increasing interest in view of their use in integrated and transient photonics. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as optical biopolymer in combination with highly emissive dyes has been reported to have excellent potential in this respect. However, achieving miniaturized lasing systems based on solid-state DNA shaped in different geometries to confine and enhance emission is still a challenge, and the physicochemical mechanisms originating fluorescence enhancement are not fully understood. Herein, a class of wavelength-tunable lasers based on DNA nanofibers is demonstrated, for which optical properties are highly controlled through the system morphology. A synergistic effect is highlighted at the basis of lasing action. Through a quantum chemical investigation, it is shown that the interaction of DNA with the encapsulated dye leads to hindered twisting and suppressed channels for the nonradiative decay. This is combined with effective waveguiding, optical gain, and tailored mode confinement to promote morphologically controlled lasing in DNA-based nanofibers. The results establish design rules for the development of bright and tunable nanolasers and optical networks based on DNA nanostructures

Study of the amplified spontaneous emission in a dye-doped biopolymer-based material

In this paper we investigate the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon in the system based on a dye dissolved in a modified deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The system consisted of a biopolymeric matrix made of DNA blended with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA) and doped with a well-known rhodamine (Rh 6G) laser dye. Thin films of the DNA–CTMA : Rh6G were excited at λ = 532 nm wavelength with 8 ns laser pulses. We report on ASE intensity as a function of the laser power, dependence of polarization state of the excitation beam, ASE gain and temporal stability of the signal for the investigated system

Applications of the DNA-based material for lasing and dynamic holography

We present results of possible applications of a modified DNA-dye system for lasing and dynamic optical information recording. The system consisted of bio-polymeric matrix made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) substituted with cationic surfactant molecule cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA) and doped with a photochromic (Disperse Red 1) or fluorescent (Rhodamine 6G) molecules. Results of optical information recording were obtained in a typical degenerate two wave mixing experiment. For sample excitation we used a linearly polarized light of λ = 514.5 nm delivered by an argon ion (Ar+) laser. For amplified spontaneous emission measurements we used 6 ns pulses of 532 nm wavelength delivered by Nd:YAG laser doubled in frequency

Amplified spontaneous emission of 3-(1,1-dicyanoethenyl)-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole molecule embedded in various polymer matrices

Results of studies on the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon in 3-(1,1-dicyanoethenyl)-1-pheny1-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole (DCNP) molecules in four different polymeric matrices are reported. We have analyzed ASE spectra coming from thin films of DCNP-matrix samples when excited by the Nd:YAG nanosecond pulsed laser doubled in frequency (lambda = 532 nm). We report on ASE characteristics in function of different excitation pulse energy densities evaluating ASE thresholds, exponential gain coefficients and reporting the influence of the specific matrix-dye interactions on the photo-degradation process of the dye

Dye stabilization and wavelength tunability in lasing fibers based on DNA

Lasers based on biological materials are attracting an increasing interest in view of their use in integrated and transient photonics. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as optical biopolymer in combination with highly emissive dyes has been reported to have excellent potential in this respect. However, achieving miniaturized lasing systems based on solid-state DNA shaped in different geometries to confine and enhance emission is still a challenge, and the physicochemical mechanisms originating fluorescence enhancement are not fully understood. Herein, a class of wavelength-tunable lasers based on DNA nanofibers is demonstrated, for which optical properties are highly controlled through the system morphology. A synergistic effect is highlighted at the basis of lasing action. Through a quantum chemical investigation, it is shown that the interaction of DNA with the encapsulated dye leads to hindered twisting and suppressed channels for the nonradiative decay. This is combined with effective waveguiding, optical gain, and tailored mode confinement to promote morphologically controlled lasing in DNA-based nanofibers. The results establish design rules for the development of bright and tunable nanolasers and optical networks based on DNA nanostructures