Multiphoton Absorption and Two-Photon-Pumped Random Lasing in Crystallites of a Coordination Polymer

Abstract

Functional materials with multiple optical properties have been investigated extensively in recent years because of their potential applications. Here we demonstrate a ladder polymer, [Zn2(benzoate)4(An2Py)2], for its efficient light frequency up-conversion via multiphoton excitation at wavelengths ranging from 800 to 1500 nm. The zinc-based coordination polymer can be self-assembled from zinc(II) nitrate, trans,trans-9,10-bis(4-pyridylethenyl) anthracene (An2Py), and benzoate ligands furnishing a one-dimensional ladder structure. The coordination polymer exhibits a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 70%, a two-photon-absorption cross section of 890 GM at 800 nm, and a three-photon-absorption cross section of 3.1 × 10–78 cm6 s2 photon–2 at 1200 nm. Furthermore, the coordination polymer in the form of nanoscale crystallites is capable of random lasing when pumped by 800 nm laser pulses with a threshold of 1.5 mJ/cm2.