Non-linear optical study of hierarchical 3D Al doped ZnO nanosheet arrays deposited by successive ionic adsorption and reaction method

Abstract

Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method is based on the adsorption and reaction of the ions in the cationic solution and the ionic solution, respectively. This method is simple, inexpensive, large-scale deposition, effective way for deposition on 3D substrates, low-temperature process and represents an easy way for the preparation of doped, composite and heterojunction materials. To take advantage of this method and the ZnO nanostructures, various parameters have been optimized.Undoped and Aluminum (Al) doped ZnO nanostructures were prepared by the SILAR technique. The characterization of the nanostructures prepared was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis spectrometry and nonlinear optical analysis (NLO). The structural, compositional and optical properties confirm the introduction of Al3+ ions into the ZnO matrix. As a result, an enhancement of the crystallinity, enhancement of the light absorption and a change in the morphology of the nanostructures were observed.The laser stimulated nonlinear optical effects of the second and third harmonic generation were done using a fundamental laser beam. The laser stimulated NLO values obtained are at least 10% higher than the doped ZnO nanomaterials synthesized by other methods using the same set-up.