Proton-transfer lasers from solid polymeric chains with covalently bound 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole groups

M L Ferrer; A U Acuña; F Amat-Guerri; A Costela; J M Figuera; F Florido; R Sastre

doi:10.1364/AO.33.002266

Proton-transfer lasers from solid polymeric chains with covalently bound 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole groups

Appl Opt. 1994 Apr 20;33(12):2266-72. doi: 10.1364/AO.33.002266.

Authors

M L Ferrer, A U Acuña, F Amat-Guerri, A Costela, J M Figuera, F Florido, R Sastre

PMID: 20885573
DOI: 10.1364/AO.33.002266

Abstract

The lasing properties of a number of newly synthesized 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole derivatives copolymerized with methyl methacrylate or dissolved in poly (methyl methacrylate) and pumped with an N(2) laser are reported. The radiation mechanism is based on the intramolecular proton-transfer in the electronic excited state. Both the lasing efficiency and the dye photostability increase significantly when the proton-transfer chromophore is covalently bound to the polymeric chain, and energy-conversion efficiencies comparable to those obtained in liquid solution are demonstrated.