Energy transfer mechanisms among various laser dyes co-doped into gel glasses

Various dyes mixtures consisting of perylene red (P-red), pyrromethene 567 (PM567) and coumarin dyes are incorporated into vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES)-derived gel glasses, respectively. Energy transfer processes among dyes are investigated by measuring the time-resolved and steady-state emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetime of each dye. The energy transfer mechanisms are discussed with 4 categories of dye pairs and extended fluorescence lifetime of PM567 and P-red are observed. The radiative and non-radiative nature of the energy transfer processes and their dependence on the donor dye concentration are estimated, paving the way for highly efficient, stable and broadly tunable solid-state dye laser materials.

► Extended fluorescence lifetimes of PM567 and P-red in the presence of donor dyes.
► The energy transfer mechanisms involved can be categorized as 3 kinds.
► The radiative and non-radiative nature of energy transfer varies with PM567 concentrations.
► A multi-photon quenching of triplet PM567 and P-red by coumarin dyes is proposed.