Synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of Au/TiO2 nanostructures formed by novel “cold” and “hot” nanosoldering of Au and TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in water

A novel approach to synthesize Au/TiO₂ nanostructures with interesting optical properties is presented and discussed. It is based on the nanoparticle “cold” or “hot” nanosoldering occurring when two water suspensions of Au and TiO₂ nanoparticles are merely mixed at room temperature or laser irradiated after mixing.Thanks to the high fraction and mutual reactivity of surface species, immediately after the mixing process, the encounters between Au and TiO₂ nanoparticles in liquid phase are enough for “cold” nanosoldering of gold nanoparticles onto TiO₂ nanoparticles to occur. The optical characterizations show that this fast process (timescale less than 1 min) is followed by a slower process, attributable to some change of the Au nanoparticles. This latter process is significantly accelerated by the 532 nm laser light illumination. The structural and optical properties of “cold” and “hot” nanosoldered Au-TiO₂ nanoparticles were investigated by TEM, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies.Interesting optical limiting response was detected at laser fluences above 0.8 J/cm². The nature of the nonlinear effect was investigated by the Z-scan technique, determining both the nonlinear absorption coefficient and the refraction index. Such interesting non-linear optical properties are worth to be tailored for specific applications.     

Density functional theory predictions for blue luminescence and nonlinear optical properties of carbon-doped gallium nitride

The TD-B3LYP method and the plane-wave formalism of DFT method were applied to predict the blue luminescence and nonlinear optical effect of C-doped GaN, respectively. The introduction of carbon dopant will generate different acceptor or donor levels, which are mainly composed by p electronic state, within the energy gap of GaN. Exploring the calculated luminescence spectra based on the optimized excited-state structure, C_N:GaN exhibits high luminescence intensity and has nice monochromatic property. In addition, the corresponding second-order nonlinear optical coefficients are considerable, χ⁽²⁾_xzx=−15.07 pm/V and χ⁽²⁾_zzz=26.91 pm/V, which are about 28 times and 50 times of the second-order optical coefficient of KDP crystal.     

Studies on two coordination polymers [M(μ4-pz25dc)]n (M = Cd or Zn, pz25dc = pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylato) with three-dimensional pillared-layer three-nodal framework: Synthesis, structural characterization, strong optical non-linearities and optical limiting properties

Two isomorphous new candidates [M(μ₄-pz25dc)]_n (M = Cd, 1; Zn, 2; pz25dc = pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylato) for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized crystallographically as pillared-layer three-nodal frameworks with one four-connected metal nodes and two crystallographically different four-connected ligand nodes. Their optical non-linearities are measured by the z-Scan technique with an 8 ns pulsed laser at 532 nm. These two coordination polymers both exhibit strong NLO absorptive abilities [α₂ = (63 ± 6) × 10⁻¹² m W⁻¹1, (46 ± 6) × 10⁻¹¹ m W⁻¹2] and effective self-focusing performance [n₂ = (67 ± 5) × 10⁻¹⁸1, (13 ± 3) × 10⁻¹⁸ m² W⁻¹2] in 1.02 × 10⁻⁴1 and 1.05 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³2 DMF solution separately. The values of the limiting threshold are also measured from the optical limiting experimental data. The heavy atom effect plays important role in the enhancement of optical non-linearities and optical limiting properties.     

Diode effect caused by sequence of benzothiazole on optical properties

In this work, two kinds of benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized. The third-order nonlinear optical properties of the benzothiazole derivatives in minimal curative dose (DCM) were analyzed using the Z-scan measurement at 532 nm with a 120 fs pulse laser. The largest third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) and second-order hyperpolarizability of the complexes (γ) were estimated at 1.4 × 10^?13 esu and 0.86 × 10^?30 esu, respectively. The results showed that the sequence of 2- and 6-position in benzothiazole has served as a “diode,” linking to the other groups that had great influence on the optical properties such as fluorescence and nonlinear optical absorption, and the increase of the polarity and the extension of the conjugate structure had benefits to the third-order nonlinearity. The experimental findings were confirmed with the use of DFT, TDDFT, and ZINDO calculations.     

Third- and second-order optical nonlinearity of Ge-Ga-S-PbI2 chalcohalide glasses

Two series of metal iodide doped chalcohalide glasses (100−2x)GeS₂·xGa₂S₃·xPbI₂ (0?x?20) and (100−x)(0.8GeS₂·0.2Ga₂S₃)·xPbI₂ (0?x?15) were prepared and characterized. The microstructure of these glasses has been studied by Raman scattering spectra. Utilizing femtosecond time-resolved optical Kerr effect (OKE) technique at the wavelength of 820 nm, a largest third-order nonlinearity χ⁽³⁾ of 2.07×10⁻¹³ esu was obtained for the 90GeS₂·5Ga₂S₃·5PbI₂ glass, and it decreases with the addition of PbI₂ in both two series. After thermally poled, second-harmonic generation (SHG) has been observed in these glasses according to Maker fringe method and a large second-order nonlinearity χ⁽²⁾ as well as 4 pm/V was obtained for the 70GeS₂·15Ga₂S₃·15PbI₂ glass. The variations of χ⁽²⁾ and χ⁽³⁾ on glass composition are ascribed to the evolution of micro-structural units in glass. These novel chalcohalide glasses would be expected to be the promising candidate materials for nonlinear optical devices.     

Study of Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Four Derivatives of Substituted Aryl Hydrazones of 1,8‐Naphthalimide

Four 1,8‐naphthalimide hydrazone molecules with different electron‐donating groups have been applied in the study of linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. These compounds showed strong green emission in solution. Their NLO properties such as two‐photon absorption (TPA) behavior with femtosecond laser pulses ca. 800 nm and excited‐state absorption (ESA) behavior with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm were investigated. Compound 4 presented the largest two‐photon cross section (550 GM) among them due to two factors: the conjugated length of compound 4 is the longest and the electron‐donating ability of compound 4 is the strongest. Different from TPA behavior, compound 2 showed the best nonlinear absorption properties at 532 nm and its nonlinear absorption coefficient and third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities χ ⁽³⁾ were up to 1.41×10^?10 MKS and 4.65×10^?12 esu, respectively. Through the modification of the structure, the nonlinear optical properties of these compounds at different wavelengths (532 and 800 nm) were well tuned. The great broad‐band nonlinear optical properties indicate hydrazones are good candidates for organic nonlinear optical absorption materials.     

Syntheses and characterization of ferrocenylthiocarboxylate-containing coordination compounds for nonlinear optics

Four metal-organic coordination compounds containing ferrocenylthiocarboxylate components, [Cd₂(η²-SOCFc)₂(η¹-μ₂-SOCFc)₂(4,4′-bpy)]_n (1), [Cd(SOCFc)₂(tmp)]_n (tmp = 4,4′-trimethylene-dipyridine) (2) [Zn(SOCFc)₂(2,2′-bpy)] (3), and {[Hg(SOCFc)₂(phen)] · (0.5CH₃OH)} (4) (Fc = (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)), have been prepared in search of good nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Investigation of the NLO properties shows that Hg-containing compound 4 exhibits very strong third-order NLO absorptive and refractive effects. The NLO absorptive coefficient α₂ value (2.11 × 10⁻¹⁰ m W⁻¹) is larger than those of all the reported ferrocenylcarboxylate-containing coordination compounds and comparable to the well-performing Hg-containing complexes. Additionally, we further analyzed their NLO behaviors through studying electrochemical properties of the four compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers containing bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]sulfone

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers (abbreviated as PETS) that contain bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]sulfone (BHEPS) were prepared from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), ethylene glycol (EG) (5-95%) and BHEPS (5-95%). The compositions and microstructures of the copolyesters were determined by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, respectively. The thermal behaviors were studied over the entire range of copolymer compositions, using X-ray analysis, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The molecular weights, optical characteristics and tensile properties of these polymers were also determined. Experimental results indicated that the copolymers had a random microstructure. The intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers ranged from 0.65 to 0.69 dL/g. The copolyesters with BHEPS of <10 mol% were crystallizable, whereas the copolyesters with BHEPS of ?10 mol% were amorphous. Incorporating BHEPS affected the glass-transition temperature (T_g) values of those polymers, from about 81 °C for PETS₅ to 126 °C for PETS₉₅. The optical transmissions exceeded 86% for λ = 400 nm for all of the amorphous polyesters. The tensile modulus and strength of the copolyesters increased with BHEPS. However, they also became brittle and their elongation at break decreased.     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of new symmetrically substituted stilbenes

Three new chromophores and trans-4-(N-(ethyl 4″-nitrobenzoate)-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(dimethyl amino) stilbene (DMANHAS) have been synthesized and whose chemical structures have been characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. Linear absorption, single-photon-induced fluorescence and two-photon-induced fluorescence are experimentally studied. Trans-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(dimethyl amino)stilbene (DMAHAS) and trans-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(diethyl amino)stilbene (DEAHAS) have effective two-photon absorption cross-sections of σ₂=0.91×10⁻⁴⁶ cm⁴ s/photon and σ₂=1.19×10⁻⁴⁶ cm⁴ s/photon at 532 nm by using an open aperture Z-scan technique, respectively. When pumped with 800 nm laser irradiation, DMAHAS and DEAHAS indicate strong two-photon-induced blue fluorescence of 436 and 440 nm, respectively, while trans-4-(N-(ethyl 4″-nitrobenzoate)-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(diethyl amino) stilbene (DEANHAS) and DMANHAS exhibit no fluorescence.     

Novel fluoroacrylated copolymers: synthesis, characterization and properties

The development of polymer waveguides leads to synthesis of fluorinated amorphous polymers with high transmission capacity, potential to tune their optical properties by tailoring the molecular structure, together with good processability, easy handling, good flexibility and low cost.In this work we have investigated new thermoplastic fluoroacrylated copolymers, synthesized by radical copolymerization of fluoroalkene(s) with five-membered cyclic carbonate and a third monomer or transfer agent, both containing OH group susceptible to be used for grafting of photocrosslinkable groups. The reaction of hydroxy functionalized copolymers with different acrylating agents results in fluoroacrylated resins with molecular weight in the range of 2000-3000 g mol⁻¹, yield >75% and good solubility in reactive diluents. In the presence of photoinitiator(s), they were crosslinked under UV-radiation in order to obtain optical waveguides.The copolymers synthesized were characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR as well as FT-IR spectroscopies and have good thermal stability (T_d > 200 °C). The refractive indeces of hydroxy functionalized fluorooligomers and acrylated resins were found to range from 1.44 to 1.45 at 23 °C and the T_gs (by DSC) varied from 40 to 110 °C depending on the content of the cyclic monomer. The optical characteristics of these thermoplastic fluoroacrylated copolymers are under progress.     

Effect of sodium to barium substitution on the space charge implementation in thermally poled glasses for nonlinear optical applications

Thermally poled niobium borophosphate glasses in the system 0.55(0.95−y) NaPO₃+y/2 Ba(PO₃)₂+0.05Na₂B₄O₇)+0.45Nb₂O₅ were investigated for second order optical nonlinear (SON) properties. Bulk glasses were studied by Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, optical and dielectric measurements. The sodium to barium substitution does not lead to significant changes in optical properties, crystallization of glasses and coordination environment of polarizable niobium atoms. However, the ionic conductivity decreases drastically with the increase of barium concentration. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy has been used to determine the element distribution in the anode layer of the thermally poled glasses. The second order optical susceptibilities gradually decrease from χ⁽²⁾=2.8 pm/V to zero with the increase of barium content. Using a simple electrical model, variations of nonlinear optical responses have been correlated with dielectric characteristics.     

Surface structure of thin asymmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers investigated by atomic force microscopy

Asymmetric poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers of molecular weight M_n = 29,700 g mol⁻¹ (M_PS = 9300 g mol⁻¹M_PMMA = 20,100 g mol⁻¹, PD = 1.15, χ_PS = 0.323, χ_PMMA = 0.677) and M_n = 63,900 g mol⁻¹ (M_PS = 50,500 g mol⁻¹, M_PMMA = 13,400 g mol⁻¹, PD = 1.18, χ_PS = 0.790, χ_PMMA = 0.210) were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface structure of thin films, prepared by spin-coating the diblock copolymers on a silicon substrate. We show that the nanostructure of the diblock copolymer depends on the molecular weight and volume fraction of the diblock copolymers. We observed a perpendicular lamellar structure for the high molar mass sample and a hexagonal-packed cylindrical patterning for the lower molar mass one. Small-angle X-ray scattering investigation of these samples without annealing did not reveal any ordered structure. Annealing of PS-b-PMMA samples at 160 °C for 24 h led to a change in surface structure.     

The Heusler phases LiRh2Si and LiRh2Ge: Synthesis, structure and properties

The isostructural Heusler phases LiRh₂Si and LiRh₂Ge have been synthesized from the elements and an excess of lithium at 1000 °C. Both materials adopt the CuMn₂Al crystal structure, space group Fm−3m (No. 225) with the room temperature lattice parameter a=5.747(1) Å [Vol=189.866(1) Å³] and a=5.847(1) Å [Vol=199.88(6) Å³] for LiRh₂Si and LiRh₂Ge, respectively. X-ray analyses suggest mixed site occupancy of the form Li_1−xRh₂Si_1+x (x<0.4), but not for LiRh₂Ge. Both materials are diamagnetic, χ_mol(LiRh₂Si)=−6×10⁻⁵ cm³(mole)⁻¹ and χ_mol(LiRh₂Ge)=−10×10⁻⁵ cm³(mole)⁻¹ and metallic with room temperature resistivities of approximately 19 and 32 μΩ cm, respectively. These properties are consistent with the calculated electronic structure.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of fluorene-based copolymers with narrow band-gap units on the side chain

A series of novel polyfluorene copolymers are developed by covalently attaching narrow band gap aryl-heterocycle units of Th-BT-TPA to the side chain of polyfluorene with an alkyl phenyl spacer through Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reactions. The resulting copolymers are soluble in common organic solvents. The electrochemical, optical, and photovoltaic properties of the copolymers are studied. Electrochemical and optical analysis reveal that these polymers exhibit relatively low band gaps from 1.95 to 2.00 eV and exhibit strong absorption in the 300-620 nm region. BHJ solar cells blending copolymers PF-MR15-DBT35 with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (1:1 weight ratio) as the active layer present a high open-circuit voltage (V_oc∼1.0 V) and a power conversion efficiency of 0.7% under simulated solar light AM1.5G (80 mW/cm²). Further investigations of other polyfluorene copolymers with narrow band gap aryl-heterocycle units on the side chain are in progress.     

New optical limiting polymeric materials with different π-electron conjugation bridge structures: Synthesis and characterization

In this communication we describe the design and synthesis of five new conjugated polymers (P1–P5) with various π-electron conjugation bridges. Their structures were established by FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis. The molecular weights of the polymers were estimated by gel permeation chromatographic technique. Further, their electrochemical, linear and nonlinear optical properties were investigated. The electrochemical band gaps of P1–P5 were found to be 1.72–2.35 eV. Their third-order nonlinear optical activities were studied by open aperture Z-scan technique, using a Q-switched, frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser producing 7 nano second laser pulses at 532 nm. Z-scan results reveal that the polymers exhibit self-defocusing nonlinearity and their operating mechanism involves reverse saturable absorption. The polymers showed strong optical limiting behavior due to effective two-photon absorption (2PA) with 2PA coefficients of the order of 10^?11 m/W, which is comparable to that of good optical limiting materials in the literature.     

Linear and third order nonlinear optical properties of LiRbB4O7 single crystal

Lithium rubidium borate (LiRbB₄O₇) single crystal has been grown by the Czochralski method. Crystalline perfection and optical homogeneity of the grown LiRbB₄O₇ crystal are analyzed by high resolution X-ray diffraction and birefringence interferometric technique, respectively. Third order nonlinear optical parameters of LiRbB₄O₇ crystal are determined by Z-scan experimental technique. The nonlinear refractive index (n₂) and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ³) are estimated to be −4.935 × 10⁻¹¹ cm²/W and 2.719 × 10⁻⁷ esu, respectively. The measured (n₂) value reveals the self-focusing nature of LiRbB₄O₇ crystal.     

Hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structure and third-order nonlinear optical properties of a 3D coordination polymer containing 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylate (BPTC) and pyrazine ligands

A mixed-ligand compound, [Ni₂(BPTC)(pyz)?·?2H₂O] _n (0.5H₂O) _n (BPTC?=?3,3′,4, 4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylate, pyz?=?pyrazine), has been prepared hydrothermally by assembly of BPTC, NiCl₂·6H₂O and pyz. X-ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal reveals the three-dimensional framework assembled from pyz-pillared two-dimensional sheets. Three types of channels in one direction are established inside the structure. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties in DMF have been studied by Z-scan technique using an 8?ns laser at 532?nm. The results reveal that the new compound exhibits strong NLO absorption and self-focusing refractive performance (n ₂?=?2.7?×?10^?17?m²?W^?1).     

Synthesis and properties of thermally cross-linkable main-chain azobenzene polymers containing diacetylene moieties

A series of main chain azobenzene polymers containing diacetylene moieties with different lengths of the spacer {-[CC-CH₂-O-C₆H₄-OCO-(CH₂)_m-O-C₆H₄-NN-C₆H₄-O-(CH₂)_m-OCO-C₆H₄-O-CH₂-CC]_n-, where m = 3, 6, 11} were synthesized by oxidative coupling polymerization. These polymers had molecular weights of 17,600-68,600 and polydispersity indices of 1.2-1.8 as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polystyrene as a standard. Their structures and properties were characterized and evaluated with NMR, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and nonlinear optical (NLO) analyses. All the polymers could be cross-linked at the elevated temperatures due to the polymerization reactions of the diacetylene groups in the polymer backbone, and the cross-linked polymers showed dramatically modified properties, such as thermal stability and solvent resistance. The third-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the cross-linked polymers were evaluated by means of the Z-scan technique and calculated to be 3.60 × 10⁻⁹, 2.73 × 10⁻⁹, 2.28 × 10⁻⁹ esu, respectively, whereas the un-cross-linked polymers showed no obvious NLO property.     

DFT structural and optical nonlinear investigations of a synthesized new azo β-diketone dye

A new azo β-diketone (NA1) compound is synthesized by coupling reaction of 4-aminoantipyrine with acetylacetone. The NA1 compound is characterized via FTIR, Mass, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. The keto-enol tautomers of the compound electronic structures and energies are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) via B3LYP method/6-311G (d,p) level. The NA1 compound nonlinear optical (NLO) properties are studied via the diffraction patterns (DPs) and the Z-scan where the compound nonlinear index of refraction (NIR), the optical limiting (OLg) property using 473 nm visible, low power, continuous (cw) laser beam are used while the all-optical switching (AOS) property is studied using two laser beams of wavelengths 473 nm and 532 nm.     

Preparation of TeOx–SiO2 film with excellent third-order nonlinear optical properties by electrochemically induced sol–gel method

TeO_x-SiO₂ composite films having third-order nonlinearities were prepared by electrochemically induced sol-gel deposition method on ITO substrate.The third-order optical nonlinearities of the films were measured by Z-scan technique.The third-order nonlinear susceptibilities(χ^（3）) of the as-prepared films are 5.9×10^-7 to 4.29×10^-6esu.The surface morphology and composition of the films were characterized by SEM/EDX,which identified that Te metallic particles well dispersed in TeO_x-SiO₂ gel films.