Third order optical nonlinearity and optical limiting studies of propane hydrazides

Four hydrazones, 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-N′-[phenylmethylene] propanehydrazide (P1), 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-N′-[(4- tolyl)methylene] propane hydrazide (P2), 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-N′-[1-(4- chlorophenyl)ethylidene] propanehydrazide (P3) and 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-N′-[1-(4-Nitrrophenyl)ethylidene] propane hydrazide (P4) were synthesized and their third order nonlinear optical properties have been investigated using a single beam Z-scan technique with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. The measurement on the compound-P1 is not reported as there is no detectable nonlinear response. Open aperture data of the other three compounds indicate two photon absorption at this wavelength. The nonlinear refractive index n2, nonlinear absorption coefficient β, magnitude of effective third order susceptibility χ(3), the second order hyperpolarizability γh and the coupling factor ρ have been estimated. The values obtained are comparable with the values obtained for 4-methoxy chalcone derivatives and dibenzylideneacetone derivatives. The experimentally determined values of β, n2, Re χ(3) and Im χ(3), γh and ρ of the compound-P4 are 1.42 cm/GW, −0.619 × 10−11 esu, −0.663 × 10−13 esu, 0.22 × 10−13 esu, 0.34 × 10−32 esu and 0.33 respectively. Further the compound-P4 exhibited the best optical power limiting behavior at 532 nm among the compounds studied. Our studies suggest that compounds P2, P3 and P4 are potential candidates for the optical device applications such as optical limiters and optical switches.

► We investigate third order nonlinear optical properties of four hydrazones.
► A single beam Z-scan technique.
► Values of β, n2, Re χ(3) and Im χ(3), γh and ρ are experimentally determined.
► Compounds are found to be potential candidates for optical device applications.