Nonlinear optical properties of carbon nanotube hybrids in polymer dispersions

Jun Wang, Kang Shyang Liao, Daniel Früchtl, Ying Tian, Aisling Gilchrist, Nigel J. Alley, Enrico Andreoli, Brad Aitchison, Albert G. Nasibulin, Hugh J. Byrne, Esko I. Kauppinen, Long Zhang, Werner J. Blau, Seamus A. Curran

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    A series of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) and multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized with selected organic chromophores, fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate (FITC), rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC) and fullerene (C 60) were synthesized by covalently linking these electron-donor groups to the metallic nanotubes. These versatile carbon nanotube composites show remarkable nonlinear optical (NLO) performance, due to a merged effect of the complementary NLO characteristics of the moieties of the composites. The hybrids were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Evidence suggests charge transfer species are formed between the chromophores and the nanotubes. The optical limiting performance of the DWNT, MWNT hybrids and carbon NanoBuds is found to be superior to that of single-walled nanotubes. Thermally induced light scattering from nanotube moieties is the primary mechanism dominating the NLO response. Reverse saturable absorption from fullerene moieties makes a significant contribution to the NLO response of fullerene containing hybrids and NanoBuds. Photoinduced charge transfer from the fullerenes or the organic chromophores (FITC and RITC) to nanotubes followed by absorption in the charge separated excited state may enhance the nonlinear absorption, thus an effective optical limiting response.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)992-997
    Number of pages6
    JournalMaterials Chemistry and Physics
    Volume133
    Issue number2-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2012

    Keywords

    • Carbon nanotube hybrids
    • Nonlinear scattering
    • Optical limiting
    • Z-scan

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