Nonlinear optics of molecular nanostructures in solution: Assessment of the size and nonlinear optical properties

Most of the known self-assembly processes occur in solution, where nanosized objects interact each other forming new structures. Their real-time characterization in terms of the size and optical properties of these objects is vital for understanding those interactions. We report a novel application of nonlinear optics to study molecular structures and assemblies. By measuring the power of the third-harmonic generated in a solution of nanoparticles, we determined both the size and the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of those nanoparticles. The newly developed technique was successfully employed to observe the structural organization of collagen (type I) molecules in solution. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shcheslavskiy, V. I., Saltiel, S. M., Ivanov, D. A., Ivanov, A. A., Petrusevich, V. Y., Petrov, G. I., & Yakovlev, V. V.

Shcheslavskiy, Vladislav I||Saltiel, Solomon M||Ivanov, Denis A||Ivanov, Anatolii A||Petrusevich, Vladislav Y||Petrov, Georgi I||Yakovlev, Vladislav V

Nonlinear optics of molecular nanostructures in solution: Assessment of the size and nonlinear optical properties Academic Article