Effects of differently shaped silver nanoparticles on the photophysics of pyridylsulfanyl-substituted phthalocyanines
- Authors: D’Souza, Sarah , Mashazi, Philani N , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020353
- Description: This paper reports on the photophysical behavior of (2-pyridylsulfanyl)phthalocyaninato zinc(II) and 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra-(2-pyridylsulfanyl)phthalocyaninato zinc(II) in the presence of differently shaped silver nanoparticles (nanospheres, nanotriangles and nanoflowers). The presence of shaped nanoparticles increased both triplet quantum yields and lifetimes of the tetra-substituted mercaptopyridine zinc phthalocyanine in DMSO. It is apparent from this work that the shape of the silver nanoparticle used is of little consequence in influencing photophysical behavior of the phthalocyanines. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2015.06.038
- Full Text: false
Enhanced nonlinear optical properties of octa-substituted lead and cadmium phthalocyanines when embedded in poly(bisphenol A carbonate) as thin films
- Authors: Mkhize, Colin , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7320 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020565
- Description: This work presents photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of a novel Cd 2,3-[octakis{4-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyanine}] (CdOtBPPc) and compare them with those of Pb 2,3-[octakis{4-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyanine}] (PbOtBPPc). For both the CdOtBPPc and PbOtBPPc, third order imaginary susceptibility and second order hyperpolarizability values were found to be within the limit set for good optical limiters. The Pcs were embedded in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBC) as thin films. The optical limiting values of the Pcs once embedded in film were found to be greatly improved and the limiting fluence of each film was well below the maximum threshold. Both PbOtBPPc and CdOtBPPc showed better optical limiting when embedded in PBC compared to PMMA. CdOtBPPc shows better nonlinear optical behavior than PbOtBPPc in solution and as thin films, even though the former is aggregated in solution. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.07.025
- Full Text: false
Fluorescence Behaviour and Singlet Oxygen Production of Aluminium Phthalocyanine in the Presence of Upconversion Nanoparticles
- Authors: Watkins, Zane , Taylor, Jessica , D’Souza, Sarah , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7288 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020337
- Description: NaYF4:Yb/Er/Gd upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) were synthesised and the photoemission stabilised by embedding them in electrospun fibers. The photophysical behaviour of chloro aluminium tetrasulfo phthalocyanine (ClAlTSPc) was studied in the presence of UCNPs when the two are mixed in solution. The fluorescence quantum yield value of ClAlTSPc decreased in the presence of UCNPs due to the heavy atom effect of UCNPs. This effect also resulted in increase in triplet quantum yields for ClAlTSPc in the presence of UCNPs. The fluorescence lifetimes for UCNPs were shortened at 658 nm in the presence of ClAlTSPc when the former was embedded in fiber and suspended in a dimethyl sulfoxide solution of the latter. A clear singlet oxygen generation by ClAlTSPc though Förster resonance energy transfer was demonstrated using a singlet oxygen quencher, 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10895-015-1632-z
- Full Text: false
Fluorescence studies of quantum dots and zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine conjugates
- Authors: Britton, Jonathan , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6565 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004124
- Description: CdTe Qds capped with mercapto propionic acid (MPA) were covalently linked to zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (ZnTAPc) using N-ethyl-N(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) as the coupling agents. The results presented give evidence in favour of the formation of an amide bond between ZnTAPc and CdTe QDs. Both the linked ZnTAPc–QD complexes and a mixture of QDs and ZnTAPc (i.e. without chemical linking) showed Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). ZnTAPc quenched the QDs emission, giving quenching constants in the order of 103 M−1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Nonlinear optical properties of natural laccaic acid dye studied using Z-scan technique
- Authors: Zongo, S , Sanusi, Kayode , Britton, Jonathan , Mthunzi, P , Nyokong, Tebello , Maaza, M , Sahraoui, B
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7261 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020270
- Description: We have investigated the nonlinear optical properties, including the optical limiting behaviour for five different concentrations of laccaic acid dye in solution and a thin film obtained through doping in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer. The experiments were performed by using single beam Z-scan technique at 532 nm with 10 ns, 10 Hz Nd:YAG laser pulses excitation. From the open-aperture Z-scan data, we derived that the laccaic dye samples exhibit strong two photon absorption (2PA). The nonlinear refractive index was determined through the closed aperture Z-scan data. The estimated absorption coefficient β2, nonlinear refractive index n2 and second order hyperpolarizability γ were found to be of the order of 10−10 m/W, 10−9 esu and 10−32 esu, respectively. The Z-scan study reveals that the natural laccaic acid dye emerges as a promising material for third order nonlinear optical devices application. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2015.04.031
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
Optical limiting and singlet oxygen generation properties of phosphorus triazatetrabenzcorroles
- Authors: Mkhize, Colin , Britton, Jonathan , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7257 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020266
- Description: Novel phosphorus triazatetrabenzcorrole (TBC) tetrasubstituted at the α- and β-positions of the peripheral fused benzene rings with t-butylphenoxy substituents have been prepared and characterized. The effect of the substituents on the electronic structures and optical properties is investigated with TD-DFT calculations and MCD spectroscopy. The optical limiting properties have been investigated to examine whether the lower symmetry that results from the direct pyrrole–pyrrole bond and hence the permanent dipole moment that is introduced result in higher safety thresholds, relative to the values that have been reported for phthalocyanines. The suitability of the compounds for singlet oxygen applications has also been examined. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S1088424614501065
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
Photophysical and non-linear optical behavior of novel tetra alkynyl terminated indium phthalocyanines: Effects of the carbon chain length
- Authors: Bankole, Owolabi M , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7262 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020271
- Description: We report on the synthesis, photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of tetra-substituted alkynyl indium phthalocyanine complexes (3a and 3b). Both complexes showed large triplet quantum yields. Nonlinear optical properties were also evaluated for the two complexes at a wavelength of 532 nm using nanosecond Z-scan technique in dimethylsulfoxide. We observed two-photon absorption (2PA) and strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) as the dominant mechanisms at nanosecond laser excitation. The underlining 2PA and observed RSA were subjected to further scrutiny by comparing the analytical absorption model to the transmittance optical absorption theory. The theoretical results were in good agreement to the observed RSA and the 2PA mechanism. Large two-photon absorption cross-section (1.29 × 10−42 and 1.15 × 10−42 cm4 s/photon), third-order susceptibility (2.10 × 10−14 and 2.15 × 10−14 esu) and hyperpolarizability (2.70 × 10−32 and 3.19 × 10−32 esu) were estimated for complex 3a and 3b, respectively. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.12.020
- Full Text: false