AVS 45th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Group Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoP

Paper BI-MoP6
Second-Harmonic Generation in Thin Films of Bacteriorhodopsin: Sensor for Organic Electronic Devices

Monday, November 2, 1998, 5:30 pm, Room Hall A

Session: Biomaterial Interfaces Poster Session
Presenter: N.V. Didenko, Moscow State University, Russia
Authors: N.V. Didenko, Moscow State University, Russia
A.A. Fedyanin, Moscow State University, Russia
T.V. Murzina, Moscow State University, Russia
E.P. Lukashev, Moscow State University, Russia
O.A. Aktsipetrov, Moscow State University, Russia
Correspondent: Click to Email
The nonlinear-optical method of second-harmonic generation (SHG) that has been shown to be a sensitive probe for studying surfaces, interfaces and thin films is suggested as a new non-destructive pH-sensor for biological display elements and readout of information for photochromic optical storage. The pH-induced changes of quadratic susceptibility of oriented micron-thick bacteriorhodopsin D85N films obtained for basic titrations (pH range 5-11.5) have led to drastic (more than an order of magnitude) variations in the SHG response. The photo- and electroinduced effects in SHG and Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering (HRS) in solid films of native bacteriorhodopsin are shown to be quite sufficient to distinguish by means of SHG and HRS quazistable states of bacteriorhodopsin molecule which can be used as functional states of memory storage elements. The output of a Q - switched YAG laser at the wavelength of 1064 nm that has been used as a fundamental radiation is shown not to cause the destruction of the samples and switching the memory element as well.