ASE and photodegradation of two benzimidazole derivatives proton transfer dyes in polymeric matrices

Abstract We report the preparation and spectral characteristics of solid polymeric hosts doped with proton-transfer dyes 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HPBI) and 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-chlorphenyl)benzimidazole (Cl-HPBI). The material shows amplified stimulated emission (ASE) under 337 nm pulse excitation. In comparing with PMMA, PS and a 1:1 PS/PMMA copolymer as host material the latter shows improved properties relating to efficiency and photo stability. For all samples we observed a shortening in ASE pulse width during emission due to photo degradation.