Effect of methoxy substitution on ultrafast third-order nonlinear optical properties in chalcone–PMMA thin films
摘要
We report the fabrication and study of linear and third-order nonlinear optical properties of three methoxy-substituted nitro-chalcones (MNC, DMNC, TMNC) doped PMMA thin films at 5, 10, and 15 wt%. Chemical spray pyrolysis was used to prepare the films. UV–Vis–NIR spectra were employed to analyze linear absorption, transmittance, refractive index, and bandgap. The absorption cut-off observed below 500 nm. Film thickness was measured using profilometer and FE-SEM examined the surface morphology. Third-order NLO parameters were investigated using a Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser at 800 nm. The nonlinear refraction, nonlinear absorption, and susceptibility values ranged from 0.7 to 2.34 × 10⁻12 cm2/W, 3.1 to 3.85 × 10⁻17 cm3/W2, and 4.02 to 13.33 × 10⁻11 esu. Nonlinearity increased with doping concentration, with DMNC-PMMA films showing the highest enhancement. These films are suitable for ultrafast optical limiting at 800 nm with thresholds of 4.27–17.65 μJ/cm2.
Graphical Abstract