Determination of the quadratic hyperpolarizability of trans-4-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]pyridine and 5-dimethylamino-1,10-phenanthroline from solvatochromism of absorption and fluorescence spectra: a comparison with the electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation technique

For fluorescent compounds, the combined use of absorption and emission solv atochromic data allows to estimate indirectly the cavity radius of the mole cule in solution, a very critical parameter in the application of the solva tochromic method for the determination of the quadratic hyperpolarizability beta of dipolar molecules. For two test compounds, trans-4-[4-(dimethylami no)styryl]pyridine (DASP) and 5-dimethylamino-1, 10-phenanthroline (DAPHEN) , the beta values so obtained are compared with those obtained by the EFISH (Electric Field Induced Second-Harmonic generation) technique. For DAPHEN. the versatility of the method described in this work in the presence of mo re than one electronic transition contributing to the non-linear optical re sponse is demonstrated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.