Nonlinear optical studies of inorganic nanoparticles–polymer nanocomposite coatings fabricated by electron beam curing

• Ag nanoparticles in AUA matrix synthesized using electron beam irradiation technique.
• The films were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, TEM, and FE-SEM techniques.
• The optical limiting property of the films was tested using ns pulses at 355 nm.
• The threshold fluence for optical limiting was found to be ∼3.8×10−2 J/cm2.
• The NLO were also determined using the standard Z-scan technique with ps and fs pulses.

The optical nonlinearity of metal nanoparticles in dielectrics is of special interest because of their high polarizability and ultrafast response that can be utilized in potential device applications. In this study nanocomposite thin films containing in situ generated Ag nanoparticles dispersed in an aliphatic urethane acrylate (AUA) matrix were synthesized using electron beam curing technique, in presence of an optimized concentration of diluent Trimethylolpropanetriacrylate (TMPTA). The metal nanocomposite films were characterized using UV–visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) techniques. Ag nanoparticle impregnated films demonstrated an absorption peak at ∼420 nm whose intensity increased with increase in the Ag concentration. The optical limiting property of the coatings was tested using a nanosecond Nd-YAG laser operated at third harmonic wavelength of 355 nm. For a 25 ns pulse and 10 Hz cycle, Ag-polymer coatings showed good optical limiting property and the threshold fluence for optical limiting was found to be ∼3.8×10–2 J/cm2 while the transmission decreased to 82%. The nonlinear optical coefficients were also determined using the standard Z-scan technique with picosecond (∼2 ps, 1 kHz) and femtosecond (∼150 fs, 100 MHz) pulses. Open aperture Z-scan data clearly suggested two-photon absorption as the dominant nonlinear absorption mechanism. Our detailed studies suggest these composites are potential candidates for optical limiting applications.