Linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopic characterisation of triphenylamine and 1,2,3-tris(3-methylphenylphenylamino)benzene

The molecule triphenylamine (TPA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the starburst triphenylamine oligomer 1,3,5-tris(3-methylphenylphenylamino)benzene (m-MTDAB) in THF and as neat film are characterized. Absorption and emission spectroscopic parameters are determined. The SO-S, transition is found to be weak (n pi(+) transition) with small fluorescence quantum yield and efficient non-radiative decay (singlet-triplet intersystem crossing). The S-0-S-1 absorption cross-section spectra in the tails of the broad first absorption bands of the compounds are separated out by radiative lifetime determination and applying the mirror-image relation between absorption and emission. Excimer formation is observed for m-MTDAB neat films, its photo-dynamics is studied, and monomer and excimer stimulated emission cross-section spectra are extracted. Reverse saturable absorption is observed for TPA and m-MTDAB in picosecond laser nonlinear transmission measurements (laser duration 35 ps, laser wavelength 347.15 nm) and the responsible excited-state absorption cross-sections are determined. A new method is developed to calculate the excited-state absorption cross-section spectra of the samples in the fluorescence spectral region by amplification/attenuation of spontaneous emission measurements. The excited-state absorption is found to be larger than the stimulated emission for TPA in THF and for m-MTDAB films excluding their lasing ability. For m-MTDAB in THF the stimulated emission is found to be slightly larger than the excited-state absorption at the wavelength position of peak fluorescence emission. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.