Linear and nonlinear optical properties of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) thin solid films

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biophysics
• Optics

Background:

• Transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) is a crucial molecule in protein synthesis.
• Thin solid films (TSFs) offer unique properties for various applications.
• Exploring novel materials for optical applications is an ongoing research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate uniform transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) thin solid films (TSFs).
• To characterize the optical properties of tRNA TSFs, including linear and nonlinear optical behavior.
• To investigate the potential of tRNA TSFs as nonlinear optical materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of tRNA TSFs using an aqueous solution precursor and optimized deposition.
• Optical characterization including UV-VIS-NIR absorption spectroscopy and ellipsometry.
• Nonlinear optical characterization using the Z-scan method with a femtosecond laser.

Main Results:

• Uniform tRNA TSFs with thicknesses of 30-46 nm were consistently fabricated.
• High transparency was observed for wavelengths greater than 350 nm.
• A linear correlation was found between refractive index and tRNA concentration.
• The thermo-optic coefficient ranged from -4.21 × 10^-4 to -5.81 × 10^-4 °C^-1.
• Significant nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption were observed, indicating potential for IR applications.

Conclusions:

• Uniform and transparent tRNA TSFs can be reliably fabricated from aqueous solutions.
• tRNA TSFs possess tunable optical properties dependent on concentration.
• The demonstrated nonlinear optical properties suggest tRNA TSFs are promising for infrared optical applications.