Two-photon absorption of metal-assisted chromophores

Aiming to understand the effect of a metal surface on nonlinear optical properties and the combined effects of surface and solvent environments on such properties, we present a multiscale response theory study, integrated with dynamics of the two-photon absorption of 4-nitro-4′-amino-trans-stilbene physisorbed on noble metal surfaces, considering two such surfaces, Ag(111) and Au(111), and two solvents, cyclohexane and water, as cases for demonstration. A few conclusions of general character could be drawn: While the geometrical change of the chromophore induced by the environment was found to notably alter (diminish) the two-photon absorption cross section in the polar medium, the effects of the metal surface and solvent on the electronic structure of the chromophore surpasses the geometrical effects and leads to a considerably enhanced two-photon absorption cross section in the polar solvent. This enhancement of two-photon absorption arises essentially from the metal charge image induced enlargement of the difference between the dipole moment of the excited state and the ground state. The orientation-dependence of the two-photon absorption is found to connect with the lateral rotation of the chromophore, where the two-photon absorption reaches its maximum when the polarization of the incident light coincides with the long-axis of the chromophore. Our results demonstrate a distinct enhancement of the two-photon absorption by a metal surface and a polar medium and envisage the employment of metal-chromophore composite materials for future development of nonlinear optical materials with desirable properties.