Enhancement of fluorescence, photo-physical parameters and laser performance of pyrromethene (PM597) laser dye by Ag nanoparticles in different media

The effect of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), exposure to radiation, on the optical and photo-physical properties of pyrromethene (PM597) laser dye in liquid and solid media was assessed. 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was used as homo-monomer and homo-polymer, while 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate / methyl methacrylate were used as co-monomer and co-polymer hosts. Ag NPs was prepared and confirmed its size by high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), UV/vis absorption spectroscopy and also, theoretically by using Mie theory. The molar concentration of prepared NPs was C=3.39×10−9 mol/L. 40% C (1.356×10−9 mol/L) Ag NPs was found to have the optimum distance with (1×10−4 mol/L PM597 in liquid medium and 1×10−3 mol/L PM597 in solid medium) dye molecules according to Metal Enhancement Fluorescence (MEF) model. [40% C Ag NPs: 1×10−3 mol/L PM597] complex samples had 3.12 cm−1 and 3.89 cm−1 gain values in homo-and co-polymer media, while parent PM597 dye had 2.5 cm−1 and 3.45 cm−1 gain values. Also, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) value of complex samples was 0.455% and 0.538% in case of homo- and co-polymer respectively. While it was 0.4% and 0.457% in case of parent PM597 dye in the same sequent media. Finally, photo-stabilities of complex samples had higher values in co-monomer and co-polymer hosts compared with respect to their stabilities in homo-monomer and homo-polymer hosts.