Effect of Au coating on optical properties of CdS nanoparticles and their optical limiting studies

Abstract

We synthesized Au coated CdS nanoparticles by a novel synthesis route in which CdS is acting as a core. Transmission electron microscopy of the prepared CdS and Au coated nanoparticles shows that the size of the nanoparticles are in the range of 5 nm. TEM elemental maps of the Au coated CdS nanoparticles confirms the presence of Au nanoparticles on the surface of CdS nanoparticles. Nonlinear optical characteristics of these nanoparticles embedded in PVA thin films were studied by the Z-scan technique using Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). An enhancement in nonlinear optical property was observed for the prepared Au coated CdS embedded PVA nanocomposite films compared to that of bare CdS embedded PVA nanocomposite films. Nonlinear optical absorption coefficient and positive nonlinear refractive index of these films were measured to be 6.28 × 10−6cm/W and 4.86 × 10−11 cm2/W respectively. Au coated CdS nanoparticles embedded PVA film possesses a low limiting threshold of 34 MW/cm2 and also possess good positive nonlinear refractive index making suitable for optical limiting and optical switching applications.