Optically stimulated optical effects in the ZnO:Tm nanorods

• Zn1−xTmxO (0≤x≤0.005) thin films were synthesized.
• The average sizes of the Tm doped ZnO films were in 73–80 nm range.
• Enhanced SHG photoinduced with 1540 nm Er:glass laser.

We have performed the studies of photoinduced second harmonic generation in the ZnO nanorods doped by Thulium with different content (0.1; 0.2;0.5% of Tm). The illumination was performed with the Er:glass laser emitting at 1540 nm wavelength of the 10 ns laser and the output second harmonic generation (SHG) was studied. The AFM data analysis was performed. The role of the rare earth Tm ions on the morphology and the optically stimulated SHG is discussed. The SHG yield was found to be strongly dependent on Thulium content and Root Mean Square roughness of the studied layers.