Influence of silver nanoparticles on absorption and fluorescence properties of laser dyes

Abstract

The interaction of silver nanoparticles with four laser dyes, namely, LD-425, LD-489, LD-473, and LD-423, dispersed in methanol has been studied at room temperature by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction and estimated size is 11 nm according to Mie theory. The changes in absorption spectrum of these dyes with the addition of silver nanoparticles suggest possible interaction with the silver nanoparticles. The magnitudes of the association constants are estimated using the Benesi–Hildebrand model. Fluorescence quenching has been observed for all the dyes with the addition of silver nanoparticles of different concentrations. The Stern–Volmer plots of fluorescence quenching in the case of LD-425 and LD-489 are found to be linear, suggesting the fluorescence quenching is because of the dynamic quenching process. But in the case of LD-473 and LD-423, the Stern–Volmer plots are nonlinear showing positive deviation and the fluorescence quenching in these dyes is because of static quenching processes. Also, it is found that the fluorescence quenching is not solely due to diffusion.