Nonlinear optical limiters of pulsed laser radiation based on carbon‐containing nanostructures in viscous and solid matrices

Abstract

Results of the study of optical limiters of pulsed laser radiation based on nonlinear effects in carbon nanostructures placed into viscous and solid matrices are presented. A nonlinear optical limiting was studied by nanomaterials based on multi‐wall polyhedral carbon nanostructures (astralens) placed in a sol–gel matrix. Similar studies for single‐wall and multi‐wall carbon‐containing nanotubes placed in polymer matrices with various viscosities were performed. No additional mechanism of optical limiting due to electron structure of single‐wall carbon‐containing nanotubes at their introduction into viscous and solid composite media was found. An influence of polymer matrix composition containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a threshold and ratio of attenuation of laser radiation was demonstrated. The best limiting characteristics were observed at placing CNT into polymethylsiloxane matrix. An effect of “self‐healing” of a medium after laser radiation passage through high viscous liquids was obtained. The high parameters of nonlinear optical limiting (the threshold of limiting 10−5 J, ratio of attenuation 103) achieved for the composite material CNT (HiPCO High‐Pressure Carbon Monoxide) and carbon nanofibers in high viscous and solid polymethylsiloxane media allow the design of protective filters for laser radiation operating in wide spectral range. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.