Two-photon absorption of a supramolecular pseudoisocyanine J-aggregate assembly

Linear spectral properties, including excitation anisotropy, of pseudoisocyanine or 1,1′-diethyl-2,2′-cyanine iodide (PIC) J-aggregates in aqueous solutions with J-band position at 573 nm were investigated. Two-photon absorption of PIC J-aggregates and monomer molecules was studied using an open aperture Z-scan technique. A strong enhancement of the two-photon absorption cross-section of PIC in the supramolecular J-aggregate assembly was observed in aqueous solution. This enhancement is attributed to a strong coupling of the molecular transition dipoles. No two-photon absorption at the peak of the J-band was detected.