Effect of gold nanoparticles on the optical properties of Rhodamine 6G

Gold nanoparticles are synthesized by the laser ablation method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The absorption and emission spectra and powers of Rhodamine 6G in the absence and presence of 27 nm diameter gold nanoparticles were studied. Empirical measurements represented that presence of gold nanoparticles lead to decrease the fluorescence power and fluorescence quantum yield, and increase the absorbance and absorbed power of Rhodamine 6G. Also, Stern-Volmer quenching constant of dye in proximity of nanoparticles shows high value which implies efficient quenching of the dye fluorescence by gold nanoparticles. Fluorescence quantum yield, radiative and nonradiative decay rate of Rhodamine 6G-gold nanoparticles assembly, in parallel orientation, as a function of dye’s dipole moment distance from gold nanoparticle’s surface, based on Gersten-Nitzan model, are calculated. Calculations show variations of the fluorescence quenching is strongly depended on the distance between the dye molecules and the Nps’ surface. Also, calculated radiative decay rate indicates good agreement with the experimental value, and results of the ratio of the nonradiative to the radiative decay rate of Rhodamine 6G-gold nanoparticles mixture show nonradiative energy transfer is better explained in terms of NSET rather than FRET mechanism. Graphical abstract