Lasing From Water Solution of Rhodamine 6G/Gold Nanoparticles: Impact of ${\rm SiO}_{2}$-Coating on Metal Surface

Gold nanoparticles embedded in an optical gain material, particularly in a water solution of Rhodamine 6G, used in dye lasers can both increase and damp dye flourescence, thus changing the laser output intensity. Simultaneously, such nanoparticles influence the gain material's resistance against photobleaching. In this paper, we report our study on the impact of the SiO
₂
coating of nanoparticles on the enhancement or quenching and photobleaching of the fluorescence. The investigation demonstrates a noticeable improvement of the gain material's photostability compared to uncoated gold nanoparticles when silicon dioxide coating is implemented.