Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work reports on the optical properties of chalcones molecules in solution, using methanol as solvent. For the characterization of the linear optical properties, were obtained absorbance spectra. While for the characterization of the nonlinear optical properties, it has been used techniques hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Z-scan. Using hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique, were determined the first hyperpolarizabilities of the molecules studied. With the Z-scan technique, we could obtain the two-photon absorption spectra at several wavelengths in the range of 480 to 790 nm. From the two-photon absorption spectra were possible to determine the coefficients of two-photon absorption and their respective cross section. The results help to understand the effects of substituents added to the basic structure of chalcones in both linear optical properties as nonlinear. / Neste trabalho, estudamos as propriedades ópticas de moléculas de chalconas em solução, usando o metanol como solvente. Para a caracterização das propriedades ópticas lineares foram determinados os espectros de absorção. Na caracterização das propriedades ópticas não lineares foram utilizadas as técnicas de espalhamento hiper-Rayleigh e de varredura-Z. Utilizando a técnica de espalhamento hiper-Rayleigh foram determinadas as primeiras hiperpolarizabilidades das moléculas estudadas. Com a técnica de varredura-Z conseguimos obter os espectros de absorção de dois fótons em vários comprimentos de onda no intervalo dos 480 aos 790 nm. A partir dos espectros de absorção de dois fótons foi possível determinar o coeficiente da absorção de dois fótons e sua respectiva seção de choque. Os resultados ajudam a compreender os efeitos de substituintes, adicionados à estrutura básica das chalconas, tanto nas propriedades ópticas lineares quanto não lineares.

Compostos orgânicos constituem uma classe interessante de materiais para aplicações em óptica por apresentarem boa processabilidade, relativa facilidade para integração em dispositivos e, principalmente, pela possibilidade de otimização de suas propriedades ópticas através da engenharia molecular. Várias estratégias têm sido empregadas para sintetizar moléculas orgânicas, que exibam singificativos efeitos ópticos não lineares. Nesta direção, nos últimos anos moléculas multi-ramificadas vêm sendo produzidas com o objetivo de intensificar efeitos não lineares, já que estas podem exibir um forte efeito cooperativo entre seus ramos. Nesta tese estudamos a relação da absorção de dois fótons (A2F) e da primeira hiperpolarizabilidade com a estrutura molecular, para um conjunto de nove derivados de trifenilamina com diferentes grupos aceitadores de elétrons arranjadas em geometrias dipolar, quadrupolar e octopolar. O processo A2F foi estudados através da técnica de Varredura-Z, enquanto que a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade foi caracterizada pela técnica de espelhamento hiper Rayleigh. Os dados experimentais para a absorção de dois fótons revelaram espectros bem definidos, com valores razoáveis de seção de choque na região do visível e infravermelho próximo. Observamos ainda um engrandecimento para a seção de choque de A2F para as moléculas quadrupolares. Os resultados obtidos para a primeira hiperpolarizabilidade (β) mostraram que moléculas quadrupolares apresentam maior β do que as dipolares e octopolares, portanto, nossos resultados permitem concluir que o acoplamento eletrônico entre os ramos contribuem fortemente para a seção de choque por A2F e β nas moléculas quadrupolares, não sendo este processo relevante nas moléculas octopolares. Todos os resultados foram interpretados por meio de estudos teóricos empregando a teoria do funcional da densidade (DFT). / Organic compounds constitute an interesting class of materials for optical applications due to their excellent processability, easy integration into devices and, mainly, the possibility of optimizing its optical properties through molecular engineering. Several strategies have been employed to synthesize organic molecules, which exhibit significant nonlinear optical effects. In this direction, in the last few years multi-branched molecules have been obtained aiming at intensifying nonlinear optical effects, since they may exhibit a strong cooperative effect among their branches. On this thesis we have studied the relationship of two-photon absorption (2PA) and first hyperpolarizability with the molecular structure of a group of nine triphenylamine derivatives attached to distinct electron acceptor groups arranged in dipole, quadrupole and octopolar geometries. The 2PA process was studied by Z-scan technique, while the first hyperpolarizability was characterized by the hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique. The experimental data for two-photon absorption revealed well-defined spectra with reasonable cross section magnitude in the visible and near infrared range. We also observed an enhancement of the 2PA cross-section for the quadrupolar molecules in comparison to the dipolar and octopolar ones. The results obtained for the first hyperpolarizability (β) shown that the quadrupolar molecules present higher β than the dipolar and octopolar, suggesting that the electronic coupling between the branches strongly contribute to the 2PA cross-section and β in quadrupolar molecules, being not relevant in the octopolar molecules. All results were interpreted through theoretical studies based on the density functional theory (DFT).

Au cours de ce travail, la génération de second harmonique optique des molécules biologiques a été étudiée. Cette technique optique non linéaire possède un caractère cohérent qui permet d’accéder aux propriétés de symétrie des molécules dont la taille est très inférieure aux longueurs d’onde optiques visibles utilisées et l’hyperpolarisabilité quadratique des acides aminés aromatiques a été mesurée en solution par diffusion non linéaire. L’hyperpolarisabilité des acides aminés non aromatiques a été obtenue de manière indirecte grâce à des mesures effectuées sur le collagène, une protéine ne contenant pas d’acide aminé aromatique. Le collagène possède en fait une très forte réponse non linéaire et fait l’objet d’études intenses en microscopie optique non linéaire. Par un modèle de sommation cohérente des champs harmoniques réémis, l’origine de la très forte efficacité non linéaire de cette protéine, liée à sa grande rigidité et à son organisation spatiale en triple hélice, a pu être obtenue. En parallèle, l’étude de plusieurs petits peptides synthétiques possédant de un à quatre tryptophanes a permis de comprendre la construction de la réponse optique non linéaire de ces objets à partir de motifs répétés. Par ailleurs, pour apporter des informations supplémentaires sur les nano systèmes, un nouveau montage expérimental a été développé. La grande sensibilité du montage a permis notamment d’atteindre la sensibilité d’une seule particule dans le volume sondé et de mettre en place un système de cartographie en trois dimensions par diffusion Hyper Rayleigh. La démonstration a été réalisée pour des nanoparticules métalliques uniques d’argent piégées dans une matrice de gélatine / This thesis presents an experimental study of second-harmonic generation of biological molecules. The coherent nature of this process allows obtaining the symmetries of molecules whose size is less than the wavelengths used. The hyperpolarizabilities of aromatic amino acids were measured in solution and the hyperpolarizability of non-aromatic amino acids was measured indirectly through measurements on the collagen molecule. Thus, all the building blocks of proteins are characterized. Among the biological molecules, collagen has a very strong non-linear response despite the absence of harmonophore. A model of coherent summation of the fields reissued to understand the origin of the very high non-linear efficiency from the rigidity and the spatial arrangement of amino acids in triple helix. In the same way, the study of several peptides with one to four tryptophans has enabled us to quantify the importance of conformation and the ionic environment of proteins in the nonlinear response. To provide additional information on nano systems, a new setup has been developed, combining two beams of excitation. Thus, the dipole and quadrupole radiation are differentiated to obtain the symmetry of molecular arrangements. Finally, the great sensitivity of the setup allows mapping in three dimensions, with the Hyper Rayleigh scattering, singles metal nanoparticles catch in a gelatin matrix.

La technique de la génération de second harmonique (SHG) a été employée pour étudier la réponse non linéaire des assemblées de nano particules métalliques aux interfaces liquides. Les nanoparticules ont d’abord été caractérisées en utilisant la génération de second harmonique incohérente, également nommée diffusion hyper Rayleigh. L’étude de particules d’or et d’argent, nanosphères et des nanobâtonnets, ont permis de mettre en évidence l’influence de la couche protectrice de surfactants sur l’hyperpolarisabilité quadratique de ces particules. Ces particules ont ensuite été placées à l’interface air/eau dans une cuve de Langmuir afin d’étudier le rôle des interactions entre les particules sur la réponse optique linéaire et non linéaire. Celle-ci a révélé dans ces films formés à l’interface la présence de couplages forts entre les particules lors de la compression de la surface. Cela conduit à une transition dans le film une fois que la distance entre les particules passe en dessous d’une distance critique. Ces études ont été complétées par des expériences réalisées à l'interface liquide/liquide et sur une électrode de carbone vitreux pour examiner plus en détail le rôle de la rugosité à l’échelle nanométrique dans l’exaltation de la réponse non linéaire SHG / In this work, the nonlinear optical response of assembled metallic nanoparticles at interfaces was studied using Second Harmonic Generation. First, the nanoparticles were characterised using incoherent second harmonic generation, a technique also called Hyper Rayleigh Scattering. Thioalkane-capped silver and gold nanoparticles, both nanospheres and nanorods, were investigated and the role of this capping layer on the quadratic hyperpolarisability of these particles was underlined. The particles were then deposited at the air/liquid interface in a Langmuir trough to investigate the role of the interparticles interactions in large assemblies. Both the linear and the nonlinear optical response of these metallic films formed at the surface of the trough provided evidence of a strong coupling between adjacent particles upon compression leading to a phase transition of the film once the interparticle distance is less than a critical value. These studies were complemented with experiments performed at the liquid/liquid interface and at the glassy carbon/electrolyte interface to examine in greater details the role of roughness at the nanoscale on the enhancement of the SHG response