New Laser Dye Systems Based on Transition Metal Complexes.

Excited state properties of luminescent ruthenium II complexes and their interactions with laser dyes, other metal complexes, and oxygen have been studied in both homogeneous and surfactant containing solutions and in solid polymer matrices. Low cost experimental tools have been developed to facilitate these studies. These include a low cost temperature controller, a simple deoxygenation cell for surfactant solutions, and a low frequency computerized lockin amplifier. Also, new quantum counters for light intensity measurements have been developed. Energy transfer from ruthenium II complexes to a variety of rhodamine and oxazine laser dyes has been demonstrated in both homogeneous solutions and in surfactant-assisted ones. Singlet energy transfer efficiencies from the charge transfer CT sensitizing state of the RuII complex to the laser dyes in homogeneous solutions are unity, and in surfactant-assisted systems efficiencies are 45-75 at concentrations of 10-5M.